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GEORGE  JACKSON 


Sixty  Years 
in  Texas 


SECOND  EDITION 


By  George  Jackson 


f 


copyright  october  27,  1908, 
by   George  Jackson. 


Wilkinson  Printing    Co., 

Publishers, 

Dallas,   -   Texas. 


TO 

THE  PIONEERS 

OF  TEXAS   AND   THEIR 

DESCENDANTS 

THIS  HISTORY 

IS    REVERENTLY  DEDICATED 

BY  GEORGE  JACKSON. 


295555 


ERRATA 

On  page  72,  sixth  line,  L.  O.  Smith  should  be  L.  P.  Smith. 

On  page  151,  line  25,  fild  should  be  wild. 

On  page  172,  line  4,  the  word  such  is  left  out. 

On  page  181,  line  20,  the  word  don't  is  left  out. 

On  page  213,  line  19,  the  word  was  is  left  out. 

On  page  215,  line  20,  Robert  A.  West  should  be  Robert  H 
West. 

On  pages  232  and  233,  a  part  of  the  District  Judges  are 
printed  twice,  and  on  page  233  it  should  be  from  1846  to  1908. 

On  page  236,  line  12,  John  G.  Wood  should  be  John  J.  Good. 

On  page  281,  the  first  line  of  the  poem  to  Frank  Perry  is 
left  out  and  found  on  page  286,  next  to  bottom  line,  and  reads: 
"Dear  Frank,   do  you   remember?" 

The  foot  note  on  page  276  should  have  been  on  page  278, 
and  the  foot  note  on  page  278  should  have  been  on  page  276! 

Picture  of  oxen  running  away  with  plow  and  boy  should 
have  been  on  page  55,  instead  of  page  60. 

On  page  50,  line  14,  Hewitt  should  be  Hewett. 

On  page  210,  line  20,  S.  H.  Foree  should  be  Kenneth  Foree. 

On  page  209,  line  19,  should  read:  "Then  Barry  Miller 
was  elected  and  served  two  terms  to  1900;  then  W.  C.  Mc- 
Kamy  was  elected  and  served  three  terms  to  1906. 

On  page  346,  lines  8  and  9,  should  read:  "James  M.  and 
Edward  are  married." 

On  pages  362  and  363,  the  heading  Clayton  Rodgers  oc- 
curs twice. 


PREFACE 

In  writing  the  sketches  of  the  old  pioneers  that 
are  recorded  in  this  book,  and  the  hardships  that  my 
father  and  family  endured,  and  the  many  difficulties 
that  we  finally  overcame,  I  have  tried  to  confine 
myself  to  the  facts  as  they  occurred,  and  I  will  also 
state  as  a  fact  that  I  am  not  an  educated  man.  I 
never  had  an  opportunity  of  securing  a  common  edu- 
cation. I  went  to  school  five  or  six  months  in  an  old 
log  cabin — the  first  built  in  the  north  part  of  the 
county.  The  school  house  was  known  as  the  Bark 
Log  College,  and  the  school  was  known  as  a  Blab 
School.  The  teacher  gave  the  scholars  the  privilege 
of  studying  their  lessons  out  loud.  I  studied  gram- 
mar for  three  weeks,  and  became  far  enough  ad- 
vanced to  know  a  noun  from  a  pronoun,  and  tried 
to  parse  simple  sentences  the  last  week  of  the  school. 
If  the  reader  should  find  grammatical  or  other  errors 
in  sketch  or  poem,  I  will  kindly  ask  you  to  pass  the 
imperfection  by;  and  on  the  other  hand,  if  you  find 
anything  that  you  appreciate  in  sketch  or  poem,  be 
good  enough  to  speak  a  kind  word  about  it.  It  will 
cheer  and  gladden  my  heart,  and  I  shall  appreciate 
it  very,  very  much. 

When  I  was  growing  up  I  determined  to  secure 
the  means  to  educate  myself.  But  when  I  reached 
my  majority  the  war  came  on,  and  before  the  war 
closed  I  married,  and  after  the  war  closed  I  found 
myself  with  wife  and  baby  in  a  log  cabin  out  on  the 
bald  prairie,  and  it  was  a  hard,  hard  struggle  for  a 
living.  We  had  four  children  born  to  us,  and  we 
determined  if,  by  hard  work  and  economy,  we  could 
save  enough  to  give  our  children  better  school  ad- 
vantages, we  would  do  so,  and  we  have  done  that 
much  at  least. 


CONTENTS 


Page 

Sketch  of  John  and  Mary  Jackson  and  family 1 

Lionel    Simpson    65 

J.    H.    Morgan GG 

Joseph  Morgan   and    family 71 

The  Warners   75 

The    Camp    Meetings 85 

The  Indians   86 

Wm.   Furneaux   and   wife 87 

Mr.    Vivian    92 

A.  W.  Perry 93 

John  Henry  Brown 94 

.John  H.  Cochran 97 

Obadiah   Knight    101 

David  Myers    103 

James  A.   Smith 103 

The  Nobleman    (Poem ) 112 

Thou  God  Seest  Me   (Poem) 113 

Isaac    Webb     114 

Harrison  Marsh  and  wife 115 

James   Kennedy 120 

Judge  Nat  M.  Burford 122 

James  M.  Patterson    126 

Lancaster    127 

Farmers'  Branch    129 

Col.  John  C.  McCoy 131 

Capt.  Wm.  McKamy 139 

Robt.  J.  West 140 

Col.   T.   J.   Nash 143 

John    H.    Cole 148 

Happenings  in  Dallas  Before  the  War 151 

Hi  dgecox  War    155 

Birth    of    Dallas 157 

Murder  of  Clements  and  Whistler 158 

Killing  of  Dr.  Calder  of  Dallas 161 

Murder  of  Jamison,  Muncey  and  Wife 163 

Grand  Prairie  Fight 165 

Murder  of  Phelps  and  others 167 

Texas  Sixty  Years  Ago   (Poem) 169 

Texas  at  the  Present  Time  (Poem) 172 


CONTENTS—  Continued. 

PACE 

From   John   Henry   Brown's   History 1 73 

Organization  of  Dallas  County 174 

Peters'    Colony    175 

When  I  Took  the  Gold  Fever 177 

The  Legislature  of  Texas 205 

County  Clerks  of  Dallas  County 207 

State  Senators  208 

County  Judges    209 

Government  of  Dallas,  1856  to  1908 211 

Census  of  Dallas  and  Dallas  County,  1850  to  1900 231 

District  Judges  of  Dallas  County 233 

Criminal  and  Other  Courts 234 

Court   Houses   of   Dallas 236 

The  Yellowstone  Park 238 

Yellowstone  Park  and  Canon   (Poem) 245 

Baptist  Church 247 

Jehovah  Reigns    (Poem) 249 

The  Rise  and  Progress  of  the  M.  E.  Church 250 

From  the  Alamo  to  San  Jacinto   (Poem) 252 

The  Last  Days  of  Pompeii  (Poem) 254 

To  an  Old  Friend  I  Had  Not  Seen  For  Forty  Years  (poem)  256 

The  Old  Man  and  His  Dog   (Poem) 257 

The  Natural  Man  on  the  Ocean  of  Life  (Poem) 258 

The  Experience  of  a  Man  that  Was  Once  Rich  (Poem)..  259 

Ancient   Rome    (Poem) 260 

God  Teaches  His  Children   (Poem) 262 

For  the  Coming  Prohibition  Election  (Poem) 263 

The  Storm   (Poem) 265 

Ancient   Greece    (Poem) 266 

Is  This  Life  Worth  Living?  (Poem) 267 

Love  and  Kindness    (Poem) 269 

The  Park  at  Colorado  Springs   (Poem) 271 

Isaiah's   Prophecy    (Poem) 272 

Midnight   Dream    (Poem) 27:; 

Our  Little  Girl   (Poem) 275 

Scotland   (Poem)    276 

Ireland    (Poem)    27S 

To  Frank  Perry  (Poem) 2S2 

The  Neglected  Boys  of  Dallas 284 

Diary  of  Trip  to  England  After  an  Absence  of  56  Years. .  287 


CONTENTS— Continued. 

Pag?; 

England  and  Rome   (poem) 322 

First  Pioneers  of  Dallas  County,  (alphabetically  arranged)  324 

Samuel  B.  Pryor,  first  Mayor  of  Dallas 354 

J.   M.   Crockett,   second   Mayor  of  Dallas 355 

Judge   Wm.    M.    Hord 357 

John    Huffihines    358 

Charles    H.    Durgin 359 

John    Thomas    3fil 

Col.   George   Washington   Record 361 

Clayton    Rodgers    362 

William    B.    Miller 364 

Rev.  William  Allen 365 

E.  A.  Gracey 367 

Captain  Jefferson  Peak   369 

The  Military  Road    37JL 

The  Sheriffs  of  Dallas  County 371 

District  Clerks  of  Dallas  County 372 

The  Public  Schools  of  Dallas 373 

The  Texas  State  Fair 375 

Dallas  County  Pioneer  Association 377 

Bird's  Fort   378 

Richardson    380 

Carrollton    380 

Garland    381 

Cedar  Hill    382 

Piano    382 

Mesquite    383 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas 

The  Ancestors  of  My  Father 
and  Mother 

Nicholas  Amery,  of  Bridford,  England,  was  liv- 
ing in  1696. 

John  Amery,  son  of  Nicholas  Amery,  married 
Hounor,  daughter  of  Richard  Workeilake,  of  Devon- 
shire, England.    He  died  in  1696.    She  died  1689. 

Thomas  Amery,  son  of  John  Amery,  in  1699, 
married  Mary  Worth,  of  Bridford,  North  Devon- 
shire, England,  and  died  in  1711.    She  died  1760. 

John  Amery,  son  of  Thomas  Amery,  of  Devon- 
shire, England,  born  in  1708;  married  Mary  Puddi- 
combe  in  1736.    He  died  in  1778.    She  died  in  1750. 

John  Amery,  son  of  the  latter,  married  Mary 
Heywood,  of  Middle  Coombe,  Devonshire,  England. 

John  Amery,  son  of  the  latter,  married  Ann, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Amery,  of  Barn  Court,  Devon- 
shire, England. 

George  Jackson,  of  Wray  Barton,  Devonshire, 
England,  my  great  grandfather,  was  born  1734;  died 
1804.    His  wife,  Ann,  born  1730,  and  died  in  1814. 

George  Jackson,  my  grandfather,  son  of  the 
above,  of  Devonshire,  England,  was  born  in  1764, 
and  died  in  1853. 

John  Jackson,  my  father,  second  son  of  the  latter 
George  Jackson,  of  Devonshire,  England,  was  born 
in  1807,  and  married  in  1832,  to  Mary,  daughter  of 
John  and  Ann  Amery,  of  Devonshire,  England.  She, 
my  mother,  was  born  in  1808.  They  emigrated  to 
Peters'  Colony,  Dallas  County,  Texas,  1848,  with 
eight  children.  My  father  and  two  elder  brothers 
were  granted  960  acres  of  land,  which  shows  on  the 
map  of  Dallas  County,  patented  in  their  names.  My 
father  died  in  1866.    My  mother  died  1894. 


2  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

The  Experience  of  John  and 
Mary  Jackson,  that  emigrated 
from  Devonshire,  England,  in 
the  year  1848,  to  Texas. 

In  the  year  1847  the  agents  of  Peters  were 
throughout  England,  trying  to  induce  people  to  emi- 
grate to  Texas,  said  Peters  having  an  agreement  or 
contract  with  the  State  of  Texas  to  furnish  a  certain 
number  of  families  as  settlers  in  said  colony.  Peters 
was  given  in  said  contract  a  certain  time,  and  that 
time  expiring  July  4th,  1848.  The  agents  represent- 
ed this  to  be  a  wonderful  country,  and  said  that 
those  that  got  here  first  and  made  a  good  selection 
could  secure  for  themselves  an  estate  equal  to  the 
estates  of  the  lords  and  noblemen  of  England.  They 
represented  this  country  as  having  a  delightful  cli- 
mate, no  chilling  winds  or  driving  snows,  but  one 
continuous  spring  and  summer,  with  all  manner  of 
fruits  and  wild  game  in  abundance,  clear  and  beau- 
tiful streams  of  water,  with  plenty  of  fish. 

My  father,  having  a  large  family  and  a  very  little 
of  this  world's  goods,  decided  to  emigrate  to  Texas 
to  secure  land  for  his  boys,  Stewardsville  being  the 
objective  point,  and  represented  by  the  agents  as 
bein"  the  capital  of  Peters  Colony,  and  headquarters 
of  the  land  agents,  and  all  information  concerning 
the  colony  could  be  had  at  Stewardsville.  Early  in 
1848  we  took  ship  at  Liverpool  in  the  Gypsy  Queen. 
The  1st  of  March  we  bade  farewell  to  our  dear 
friends,  and  left  the  shores  of  Merry  England  for 
the  western  wilds  of  a  new  world.  My  mother  was 
a  weak  and  frail  little  woman,  with  a  large  family, 
several  small  children  and  a  baby  in  her  arms,  and 


JOHN  JACKSON,  SR. 


MRS.  MARY  AMERY  JACKSON 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  7 

as  the  shores  of  old  England  faded  away  in  the  dis- 
tance we  could  see  the  tears  in  Mother's  eyes,  as  she 
called  her  little  group  of  children  around  her  and 
asked  the  Lord  to  have  mercy  on  us.  No  boy  would 
ever  run  away  from  home  that  had  a  mother  like 
mine.  She  was  kind  and  loving,  thoughtful  and  com- 
passionate, and  her  whole  life  seemed  to  be  wrapped 
up  in  the  welfare  of  her  children.  We  were  nine 
long  weeks  on  the  sea,  sometimes  violently  tossed 
about  on  the  bosom  of  the  great  deep,  and  at  other 
times  still  and  calm,  with  great  fishes  swimming 
about  and  around  our  ship.  We  landed  safely  at 
New  Orleans ;  but  before  we  reached  there  many  of 
our  passengers  had  almost  given  up  all  hope  of  ever 
seeing  land  again. 

We  did  not  remain  long  in  New  Orleans,  only  a 
few  days,  and  then  took  a  steamboat  for  Shreveport, 
and  in  a  few  days  we  reached  that  place,  and  before 
we  made  the  landing  the  negroes  gathered  around 
and  stood  up  in  a  semi-circle  and  sang  negro  songs. 
That  was  very  amusing  to  us.  We  landed  and  se- 
cured quarters,  but  it  was  here  our  troubles  began. 
No  railroads,  no  stage  coaches,  and  there  seemed  to 
be  no  way  for  us  to  get  to  Stewardsville,  and  we 
could  not  find  any  one  that  had  ever  heard  of  the 
place.  Some  of  the  people  tried  to  persuade  my 
father  to  go  to  some  of  the  Middle  States.  They  told 
him  this  was  a  wild  country,  inhabited  only  with 
roving  bands  of  wild  Indians,  and  wild  animals.  But 
nothing  discouraged  him.  He  was  determined  to  go 
to  Stewardsville  in  some  way.  There  was  a  man  in 
Shreveport  from  Southwest  Texas  that  was  the  hap- 
py owner  of  three  yoke  of  long-horn  Texas  steers  and 
a  schooner  wagon,  and  he  made  my  father  believe 
that  they  were  the  very  thing  for  him  to  move  to 
Texas  with,  and  they  soon  made  a  bargain.     The 


8  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

money  was  paid,  and  the  team,  wagon  and  whip  were 
turned  over  to  my  father,  and  all  of  our  earthly  pos- 
sessions were  dumped  into  the  wagon.  My  father 
had  never  driven  oxen.  He  could  drive  a  quill;  he 
could  compose  an  article  or  write  a  deed  equal  to 
most  of  the  lawyers  of  Dallas ;  but  he  had  never  taken 
the  lirst  lesson  in  ox  driving.  But  he  said  he  could 
do  what  other  people  had  done.  I  can  see  those 
oxen  now,  as  they  stood  there  then,  headed  towards 
the  setting  sun.  Since  that  time  I  have  handled 
thousands.  I  have  driven  them  to  Kansas,  and  driven 
them  to  Colorado.  I  have  herded  them  on  the  plains, 
and  chased  them  over  the  prairies  of  Texas  for  thirty 
long  years.  But  very  few  of  them  that  I  should 
know  now  if  I  should  meet  them  in  the  middle  of  the 
big  road;  but  that  three  yoke  of  oxen  are  as  plain 
before  my  vision  now  as  they  were  on  that  eventful 
day  more  than  sixty  years  ago.  I  can  see  their  long, 
twisting  horns.  I  see  their  exact  color,  and  well  do 
I  remember  their  names.  I  was  a  lad  then  of  ten 
"summers,  and  can  remember  how  my  father  looked 
trying  to  handle  that  whip.  It  had  a  long,  tapering 
lash  and  gentle,  yielding  stock.  It  was  such  a  whip 
as  the  expert  ox  driver  loves  to  handle.  My  mother 
was  invited  to  take  a  seat  in  the  wagon,  but  she  de- 
clined. After  some  persuasion  she  agreed  to  if  the 
end  gate  was  removed,  so  she  could  have  some  means 
of  escape  if  the  team  became  unruly. 

Now,  all  ready.  My  father,  with  his  long  whip 
and  tall  hat,  was  ready  to  make  the  start.  They  do 
not  talk  to  oxen  in  the  Old  Country  as  they  do  here. 
For  "gee"  there  they  say  "wog,"  and  for  "haw"  it 
is  "come  hither."  My  father,  with  his  long  whip  in 
hand,  said,  "Wog,  Dick !"  and  off  they  start,  and  he 
gave  his  whip  a  grand  flourish,  and  called  out,  "Come 
hither,  Darb !"    But  the  whip  twisted  around  his  tall 


$■      &    * 


i   *  fe. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  11 

hat,  and  the  team  went  hilter  and  skilter,  and  soon 
hooked  on  to  a  tree,  and  my  mother  jumped  out  with 
the  baby  and  pulled  the  other  children  after  her,  and 
exclaimed,  "Good  gracious!  We  have  survived  all 
the  dangers  of  the  raging  deep  only  to  be  landed  in 
the  wilderness  to  have  all  our  bones  broken.  John,  I 
am  afraid  we  will  never  reach  Stewardsville  alive 
with  that  team;  they  are  wild  as  buffaloes."  And 
my  father  decided  he  would  lay  the  whip  away  in 
the  wagon,  he  said,  to  be  used  in  the  future,  when 
he  had  reached  a  more  advanced  stage  in  the  science 
of  ox  driving,  and  he  prepared  himself  with  a  stick 
about  ten  feet  long  and  about  the  size  of  a  walking 
stick,  and  put  a  sharp  piece  of  iron  in  one  end,  and 
filed  it  out  as  sharp  as  a  tack.  He  called  it  a  gad, 
and  that  was  a  word  he  would  sometimes  use,  and 
he  said,  "I  gad,  I  will  touch  them  up  a  bit  with  that 
and  see  how  they  like  it." 

My  father  armed  my  two  older  brothers  with 
hickory  clubs  about  four  feet  long,  and  put  one  in 
front  and  the  other  on  the  off  side,  and  again  in- 
vited Mother  to  take  a  seat  in  the  wagon ;  but  Moth- 
er declined  the  invitation,  when  Father  assured  her 
there  was  no  danger.  He  said,  "We  have  them  sur- 
rounded and  can  certainly  hold  them  in  position." 
But  Mother  shook  her  head,  and  another  start  was 
made,  and  Father  and  the  boys  herded  them  along 
through  the  deep  sand,  and  Mother  followed,  carry- 
ing the  baby  and  two  or  three  of  the  small  children 
hanging  to  her  skirts.  But  they  were  soon  tired  out. 
The  team  was  stopped,  and  they  again  got  in  the 
wagon,  and  Father  and  the  boys  herded  them  along 
through  the  deep  sand,  and  the  first  day  we  made 
about  an  eight-mile  drive,  and  when  night  came  we 
struck  camp,  and  Father  secured  a  room  at  a  farm 
house  for  Mother  and  the  children,  but  we  did  not 


12  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

know  what  to  do  with  the  oxen.  We  were  afraid  to 
take  the  yokes  off,  fearing  that  we  would  not  get 
them  properly  adjusted  in  the  morning;  so  we 
turned  them  loose  with  the  yokes  on,  and  camped 
out  for  the  first  time  in  our  lives.  Mother  said  she 
was  afraid  the  people  would  think  we  were  Gypsies. 

The  morning  came,  but  there  were  no  oxen  in 
sight.  Father  and  the  boys  went  out  to  search  for 
them,  and  were  out  a  long  time,  but  late  in  the 
evening  they  returned  to  the  camp  and  reported 
that  they  had  been  lost  in  the  woods  all  day  and 
found  no  oxen.  Tired,  weary  and  worn  out,  they 
laid  down  to  rest  until  the  next  morning.  They  then 
took  a  new  start,  keeping  near  enough  each  other 
to  hear  one  another  hollow.  About  noon  they  found 
the  oxen,  and  they  were  all  together,  but  one  pair 
had  the  yoke  turned  under  their  necks,  and  Father 
was  very  much  surprised,  and  exclaimed,  "How 
in  the  world  did  these  oxen  swap  sides?  Look,  Dick 
is  on  the  larboard  side,  and  Darb  has  got  over  on 
the  starboard  side,  and  the  yoke  is  completely  upset. 
Some  enemy  must  have  done  this.  It  is  impossible 
for  them  to  have  done  it  themselves."  They  were 
driven  to  the  camp  and  the  yoke  properly  adjusted, 
and  after  some  trouble  they  were  hitched  together 
and  a  new  start  made  for  the  West,  and  day  after 
day  we  herded  them  along  through  the  deep  sand 
and  beneath  an  almost  tropical  sun,  and  its  scorch- 
ing and  blazing  rays  were  too  much  for  us.  One 
by  one  we  were  stricken  down  with  malarial  fever 
and  dumped  into  the  schooner  wagon.  Swarms  of 
mosquitoes  would  hover  around  us  of  nights,  and 
with  their  poisonous  bills  suck  our  blood  until  our 
fair  skin  and  rosy  cheeks  were  distorted  and  swol- 
len. In  this  deplorable  condition  we  reached  Mount 
Pleasant,  in  Titus  County,  but  none  well  enough  to 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  13 

drive  the  oxen  farther.  They  were  turned  adrift. 
Father  secured  an  old,  tumbled-down  cabin,  and 
we  spread  out  such  clothing  and  blankets  as  we  had 
on  the  puncheon  floor,  none  feeling  able  to  wait  on 
the  others  to  hand  them  a  drink  of  water  to  quench 
their  thirst  or  cool  their  parched  lips. 

We  were  a  pitiful  looking  lot,  and  were  detained 
at  that  place  for  over  two  months,  and  one  of  my 
little  brothers  died  at  that  place,  and  my  mother  was 
almost  broken-hearted,  and  as  the  cold  clods  fell 
upon  his  coffin  the  tears  streamed  down  my  mother's 
cheeks,  as  she  said,  "It  is  hard  to  give  up  my  darling 
boy,  and  see  him  buried  in  a  foreign  land." 

Time  rolled  on,  and  we  recovered  from  our  sick- 
ness sufficiently  to  make  another  start;  but  the  lit- 
tle money  that  we  had  was  rapidly  slipping  away 
from  us,  and  my  mother  became  somewhat  discour- 
aged, and  I  will  say  that  if  she  ever  had  a  fault  it 
was  this — she  seemed  sometimes  to  look  on  the  dark 
side  of  things.  But  God  bless  my  dear  little  frail 
and  weakly  mother.  She  was  true  and  brave,  and 
stood  up  under  more  trials  and  hardships  and  diffi- 
culties and  troubles  than  many  would  that  were 
physically  stronger.  She  feared  that  her  children 
that  she  loved  so  much  would  become  the  servants 
of  other  people,  or  slaves,  and  it  pained  her  very 
much.  In  the  Old  Country  when  once  a  servant,  al- 
ways a  servant;  at  least,  they  seldom  rose  above 
that  station  in  life.  Before  making  another  start  for 
the  West  Mother  hung  out  on  the  fence  such  cloth- 
ing as  we  had,  to  air  them,  and  one  of  the  neighbor- 
ing women  came  to  her  and  inquired  if  she  had  any 
domestics  for  sale,  and  it  seemed  to  hurt  my  moth- 
er's feelings  as  bad  as  if  she  had  been  stabbed  in  the 
heart,  and  the  woman  turned  away,  not  knowing 
what  she  had  done  to  offend  my  mother  so.     The 


14  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

word  domestic  in  the  Old  Country  is  always  applied 
to  servants,  and  Mother  supposed  she  wanted  to  buy 
some  of  her  children. 

Neither  Father  nor  Mother  had  any  experience 
in  frontier  life.  They  knew  nothing,  in  fact,  about 
how  to  manage  or  what  to  do,  and  it  was  very  hard 
for  them  to  adapt  themselves  to  the  ways  of  the 
people  and  make  a  success  as  pioneers.  Father 
offered  a  reward  for  the  oxen,  and  they  were  soon 
found.  Our  bills  were  paid,  the  doctor  bill  being 
very  large,  and  left  us  but  little  money.  We  had 
some  friends  at  Mount  Pleasant,  but  the  shining 
gold  sovereigns  were  sought  after,  and  seemed  to 
please  them  very  much. 

The  day  arrived  for  our  departure,  and  our  long- 
horned  team  was  hitched  together  and  to  the 
schooner  wagon,  and  we  again  headed  them  towards 
the  setting  sun.  Mount  Pleasant  is  a  beautiful  name, 
but  we  cannot  look  back  and  think  of  that  place 
without  a  shudder.  It  brings  to  us  such  painful 
recollections. 

It  was  there  the  live  mosquitoes 
Their  merry  songs  would  sing, 

And  the  fleas  would  dance  to  music 
That  had  such  a  business  ring. 

We  had  by  this  time  become  better  acquainted  with 
the  oxen,  and  could  handle  the  whip  much  better. 

Our  next  stop  was  at  Bonham.  Before  reaching 
there  we  met  several  people  with  teams  going  to 
Shreveport  for  supplies,  and  the  inquiry  was, 
"Where  are  you  from,  and  where  are  you  moving 
to?"  We  would  tell  them  we  were  moving  to  Stew- 
ardsville.  The  wagons  were  muddy,  and  on  making 
inquiry  about  it  one  of  them  said :  "When  you  get 
up  on  the  high  perrari  in  the  black  waxy  land  you 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

will  strike  mud,  it  has  rained  up  thar  a  right  smart 
chance  of  a  sprinkle.." 

"Whar  was  it  you  said  youans  was  moving  to?" 

Father  replied  Stewardsville. 

"I  never  heren  o'  that  place  afore.  Whar  did  you 
move  frum?" 

Father  replied.  "Hingland." 

"Ah !    Youans  is  a  right  smart  piece  from  home." 

Father  replied,  "Yes,  it  is  quite  a  distance  back 
to  the  old  Country. 

"Say,  mister,  do  you  reckon  ole  John  Bull  will 
ever  try  to  whoop  us  agin  ?    Ha !  ha !  ha ! 

Father  replied  that  there  was  no  talk  of  it  when 
we  left  England. 

He  replied :  "I  knowed  youans  was  from  over 
thar  summers  when  I  heren  you  talk.  Kase  you  say 
'Highland'  fur  'England.'  " 

"Your  quick  and  keen  perception  is  remarkable, 
that  you  can  tell  just  where  and  what  country  a  man 
was  born  and  reared  in  on  so  short  an  acquaintance." 

"You  bet  I  can  tell  'em  every  time.  Say,  if  youans 
goes  very  fur  west  you'll  see  Inguns.  They  say  they 
can  kill  and  skelp  a  man  in  the  night  afore  he  has 
time  to  wake  up." 

"Is  it  possible?  We  will  have  to  sleep  with  one 
eye  open." 

We  had  a  good  team  of  oxen  and  one  ox  probably 
the  largest  Texas  ox  that  was  ever  brought  to  Dallas 
County. 

"Say,  mister,  that's  a  mighty  fine  team  of  steers 
you  is  got.  Ide  like  awful  well  to  cheat  you  outen 
that  bigen,  ain't  he  a  whale?" 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

Father  replied  he  did  not  care  to  dispose  of  any 
of  them.  The  loquacious  gentleman  then  bade  us 
goodbye  with  a  broad  smile  on  his  face,  and  an  air  of 
self  satisfaction  to  know  that  he  had  given  us  some 
valuable  information  on  the  right  pronunciation  of 
the  English  language.  We  were  then  in  the  edge  of 
the  prairie.  Father  and  Mother  did  not  like  Eastern 
Texas.  The  piney  woods  and  burning  sands  and 
blazing  summer  sun  had  rather  discouraged  them. 
But  now  we  had  reached  a  place  we  could  look  out 
and  see  the  country  and  get  our  breath  more  freely, 
and  we  drove  our  team  up  on  the  high  prairie  and  we 
were  all  not  only  pleased  but  we  were  delighted  with 
the  outlook.  The  broad  and  almost  limitless  prairie 
stretched  away  in  the  distance  and  seemed  as  bound- 
less as  the  mighty  ocean,  and  we  looked  on  with  ad- 
miration and  delight  as  the  sun  began  to  disappear 
in  the  west,  and  looked  like  burnished  gold,  as  it  cast 
its  bright  and  glistening  rays  across  the  boundless 
prairie,  and  looked  like  sparkling  diamonds  upon  the 
waving  grass,  and  we  were  reminded  of  the  many 
glorious  sunset  scenes  that  we  had  witnessed  in 
crossing  the  broad  seas,  when  the  mighty  monarch 
would  go  down  behind  the  boundless  ocean  and  seem 
to  set  in  a  sea  of  fire,  and  cast  its  bright  and  glisten- 
ing rays  across  the  shimmering  waters  and  multi- 
plied thousands  of  diamonds  seem  to  sparkle  and 
dazzle  and  dance  with  delight  in  every  moving  wave 
on  the  restless  sea. 

As  we  looked  over  these  boundless  prairies  that 
seemed  to  be  untouched  by  the  finger  of  man  we  felt 
like  we  were  a  part  of  the  advance  guard  that  was 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

going  out  according  to  the  command  of  God  to  help 
subdue  the  earth.  It  was  getting  late,  and  we  turned 
our  team  out  of  the  road  and  into  a  little  glade  near 
a  clump  of  trees,  and  camped  for  the  night,  and  we 
boys  were  told  to  get  some  wood  and  make  a  camp 
fire.  We  went  down  to  the  clump  of  trees,  and  they 
proved  to  be  persimmon  trees,  and  they  were  loaded 
with  green  persimmons,  and  we  thought  we  had 
found  an  apple  orchard,  and  we  were  soon  in  the  tree 
tops  trying  to  eat  green  persimmons.  Our  mouths 
began  to  draw  and  our  lips  were  soon  puckered,  and 
the  persimmons  stuck  in  our  throats  as  tight  as  the 
forbidden  apple  did  in  the  throat  of  Adam,  and  we 
came  down  from  the  trees  fearing  the  fruit  might  be 
poisonous.  Then  Mother  appeared  on  the  scene  and 
saw  the  condition  we  were  in,  and  said  we  were  all 
poisoned,  and  no  doctor  to  be  had  this  side  of  Stew- 
ardsville,  and  Mother  called  to  our  father,  "John, 
John,  bring  some  water  quick,  the  boys  are  poisoned, 
I  believe  they  are  all  taking  the  lock  jaw."  The  water 
was  brought,  and  we  were  told  to  rinse  our  mouths, 
and  Mother  stripped  her  handkerchief  to  pieces  and 
had  us  to  wipe  out  our  mouths,  and  there  we  were  all 
standing  up  in  line  chewing  the  rag,  and  after  the 
poison  and  persimmon  excitement  was  over  it  was 
some  time  before  supper  was  prepared,  and  by  that 
time  we  were  all  right,  ready  and  ravenous,  and  were 
able  to  do  justice  to  pone  pancake  and  porridge,  and 
we  then  spread  our  blankets  out  upon  the  tall  grass 
and  were  soon  sleeping  the  sleep  of  the  innocent. 

The  next  day  we  reached  the  black  hogwallow 
land,  and  Father  thought  it  must  be  very  rich  and 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

productive,  and  declared  if  we  would  only  stick  to  it 
when  dry,  like  it  was  sticking  to  us  when  wet,  we 
would  certainly  make  a  glorious  success  in  life.  It 
stuck  to  everything  it  came  in  contact  with,  and  our 
shoes  became  so  heavily  loaded  we  sometimes  felt  like 
we  were  rooted  to  the  spot,  and  we  often  thought  of 
the  talkative  man  that  spoke  the  English  language  so 
perfectly  and  said  it  had  rained  a  right  smart  chance 
of  a  sprinkle. 

We  again  went  into  camp  very  early.  We  were 
all  very  tired,  both  man  and  beast.  My  oldest 
brother,  John,  then  fourteen  years  old,  was  the  chief 
cook  and  bottle  washer.  He  decided  to  boil  some  rice 
for  supper,  and  not  being  acquainted  with  the  ex- 
pansive nature  of  the  rice,  he  put  too  much  in  the 
large  coffee  pot,  the  only  suitable  vessel  we  had  to 
boil  it  in,  and  it  soon  began  to  swell  and  expand  and 
come  out  of  the  top  of  the  pot,  and  he  filled  all  the  tin 
cups  and  then  called  for  the  water  bucket ;  but  it  still 
continued  to  come  out  of  the  pot  like  the  widow's  bar- 
rel of  meal  and  the  cruse  of  oil,  we  thought  it  would 
never  fail,  and  John  said,  "Mother,  don't  you  think 
we  had  better  try  to  trade  a  part  of  this  rice  for 
something  that  won't  swell  up  so  much?  We  have 
enough  to  last  us  for  a  camping  trip  around  the 
world,  and  it's  still  coming  out  of  the  top  of  the  pot. 
I  will  call  supper,"  said  John,  "and  see  if  this  bounti- 
ful supply  can  be  reduced.  Now,  come  around  and 
give  honor  to  the  cook,  and  all  eat  rice.  But  if  it 
still  continues  swelling  there  might  be  danger." 

We  moved  out  of  camp  the  next  morning"  with 
enough  cooked  and  half  cooked  rice  to  last  us  for  the 
balance  of  the  trip.  The  black  mud  still  sticky  in 
some  places,  and  we  again  thought  of  the 
scholarly  gentleman  that  spoke  the  English 
language  so  perfectly  and  said,  "When  you 
get  up  on  the  high  perari  in  black  waxie  land  you 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  15 

will  strike  mud ;  it  has  rained  up  thar  a  right  smart 
chance  of  a  sprinkle."    When  we  reached  Fort  Bon- 
ham  there  were  squads  of  Indians  camped  around 
that  place,  and  they  looked  like  horrible  creatures 
to  us,  and  we  wondered  if  they  were  the  kind  of 
neighbors  we  were  going  to  have  when  we  reached 
Stewardsville.    We  could  hear  nothing  of  that  place 
at  Bonham,  and  my  father  decided  he  had  better 
leave  the  family  at  that  place  and  go  West  in  search 
of  the  lost  city.     He  bought  a  nice  white  pony,  and 
dressed  him  up  with   a  red   leather  bridle  and   a 
jockey  saddle  that  we  brought  from  the  Old  Coun- 
try.    He  bade   the   family   good-bye,    mounted  his 
white  palfrey  and  headed  for  the  West.    There  were 
no  settlements,  scarcely,  between  Bonham  and  the 
Three  Forks  of  the  Trinity,  and  the  first  night  he 
could  find  no  trace  of  anything  human,  and  as  it 
grew  dark  he  would  stop  occasionally  and  listen  for 
the  bark  of  a  dog,  the  lowing  of  a  cow  or  the  crow 
of  a  rooster,  or  anything  that  would  indicate  that  a 
human  being  was  living  near.     He  finally  gave  it 
up,  and  lariated  his  horse  out  on  the  grass,  and  took 
his  saddle  for  a  pillow,  and  the  starry  canopy  of 
heaven  for  a  coverlid,  and  passed  the  night  that  way. 
He  said  it  was  very  lonesome.     Nothing  could  be 
heard  but  the  howling  of  the  wolves  and  an  occasion- 
al screech  of  an  owl. 

At  the  dawn  of  the  morning  he  arose,  ate  his 
breakfast  that  was  prepared  for  him  before  he  left 
Bonha.n;.  He  saddled  his  horse  and  made  another 
start,  and  that  evening,  as  it  grew  late,  he  saw  a  lit- 
tle cabin  on  the  edge  of  a  wood  on  Spring  Creek,  in 
Coilin  County,  and  as  he  approached  it  he  saw  an 
old  eentleman  sitting  in  the  shade  smoking  his  cob 
pipe.  The  sides  of  his  cabin  were  adorned  with  coon, 
deer  and  opossum  skins.     Father  spoke  to  him  and 


16  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

sa.'d,  "I  am  very  tired,  and  would  like  to  stay  the 
night  with  you."  He  replied,  "Alight  and  lariat  your 
horse."  My  father  complied  with  his  request,  and 
soon  was  in  earnest  conversation  with  the  old  pio- 
neer, and  from  him  he  got  some  information  about 
Ste vardsville.  He  told  him  there  was  such  a  place 
over  on  the  Elm  Flats,  but  he  did  not  think  it  was 
much  of  a  place,  but  he  had  never  seen  it. 

In  the  morning  my  father  inquired  of  him  if  he 
had  any  shaving  tackle.  He  said  he  would  like  to 
shave  and  brush  up  a  little  before  he  met  the  land 
agents  of  Stewards ville.  The  old  pioneer  replied 
that  he  had  a  razor  that  he  might  strap  up,  but  said 
it  had  not  been  used  for  a  long  time.  He  got  his 
razor  and  some  soft  soap  in  a  gourd,  and  he  had  an 
old  frying  pan  without  a  handle.  He  had  no  brush, 
but  was  equal  to  the  occasion.  He  had  an  old  sow 
in  a  pen  near  by,  and  he  extracted  some  bristles 
from  her  back,  tied  a  string  around  them,  and  in- 
vited my  father  to  take  a  seat  on  a  stump  near  the 
cabin  door,  and  with  that  soft  soap,  lather  and  hog's 
bristle  brush,  and  rusty  blade,  that  knight  of  the 
razor  began  to  play  on  my  father's  face,  and  after 
a  half  an  hour  of  excruciating  pain  he  turned  him 
loose.  Father  saddled  his  horse,  bade  his  host  good- 
bye with  a  hearty  good  shake  of  the  hand.  He 
mounted  and  again  headed  for  the  West,  in  search 
of  Stewardsville.  It  was  a  very  hot  day,  the  last 
of  August.  The  deer  and  the  antelope  were  making 
their  way  to  the  nearest  shade  earlier  than  usual, 
but  Father  pressed  on  through  the  tall  grass,  and 
about  the  middle  of  the  day  he  espied  a  small  cabin 
in  the  distance,  and  he  made  straight  for  it,  and  as 
he  approached  it  he  saw  that  it  was  occupied,  and  he 
called  out,  "Hello!"  and  a  party  came  to  the  door 
and  spoke  to  him,  and  my  father  inquired  of  him 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  17 

concerning  Stewardsville,  the  way,  and  how  far.  The 
man  looked  a  little  surprised,  and  invited  him  to 
alight,  and  said,  "This  is  the  place.  You  are  right 
in  the  heart  of  the  city." 

Father  stayed  with  him  until  the  next  morning, 
and  talked  about  land  claims,  and  how  he  could  se- 
cure a  section  of  land,  and  the  next  day  he  came 
down  into  the  Farmer's  Branch  Settlement,  and  the 
first  stop  he  made  was  at  David  Myers',  the  father 
of  the  late  Rev.  J.  M.  Myers,  and  there  met  Lionel 
Simpson  and  Joseph  Hildreth,  two  gentlemen  that 
crossed  the  sea  with  us  in  the  same  ship.  They 
bought  horses  at  Shreveport  and  left  us  there  and 
came  on  to  Dallas  County.  Lionel  Simpson  was  a 
live,  energetic  Scotchman,  and  made  a  fortune  be- 
fore the  War  broke  out.  Hildreth  was  a  different 
type  of  man.  He  was  brought  up  in  the  city,  and 
he  dressed  like  a  gentleman.  He  wore  kid  gloves, 
and  always  liked  to  have  some  one  to  wait  on  him. 
Father  and  Mr.  Simpson  frequently  told  him  he  was 
not  suited  for  Texas,  and  would  never  set  the  world 
on  fire. 

My  father  selected  a  section  of  land,  and  it  can 
now  be  seen  on  the  map  of  Dallas  County,  patented 
in  the  name  of  John  Jackson.  Father  was  very  well 
pleased  with  the  settlement,  and  soon  became  ac- 
quainted with  the  pioneers  that  had  taken  claims 
and  built  their  cabins,  the  Marshes,  Webbs,  Keenans, 
Myers,  Nixes,  Perrys,  Witts,  Wests,  and  they  were 
very  intelligent,  honest  and  kind.  They  were  a  class 
of  people  that  would  be  an  honor  to  any  country, 
and  most  of  them  had  the  tact  that  adapted  them  to 
frontier  life,  and  they  all  seemed  to  be  happy  and 
contented,  and  would  meet  the  new  comers  with  a 
hearty  welcome,  and  would  divide  such  as  they  had 
with  them.  Father  returned  to  Bonham  and  brought 


18  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

out  the  family,  and  we  secured  a  little  cabin  about 
12x14  feet  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Warner 
Place,  about  fifteen  miles  north  of  Dallas,  and  there 
we  spent  the  first  winter. 

Father  had  a  little  money  left,  and  he  and  Mr. 
Simpson  decided  to  go  South  and  buy  a  few  cattle, 
but  before  going  they  decided  to  split  some  rails  to 
make  a  cow  pen  and  fence  a  garden,  and  James  Ken- 
nedy, a  lad  about  sixteen  years  old,  went  with  my 
father  and  the  boys  to  show  them  some  timber  that 
no  ©ne  claimed,  and  he  pointed  out  to  them  some 
trees  that  he  said  would  split  easy.  One  of  them  was 
a  wild  china,  and  they  pitched  into  it  with  their  new 
axes,  and  finally  got  it  down,  and  one  length  cut  off, 
and  then  they  tried  to  split  it,  but  lightning  never 
did  split  a  wild  china.  They  got  the  wedges  all  in 
up  to  the  head,  and  were  so  tired  out  they  sat  down 
to  rest,  and  looking  towards  our  cabin,  they  saw  a 
dense  cloud  of  smoke.  Hildreth,  the  gentleman, 
had  heard  Father  and  Mr.  Simpson  saying  about 
the  first  thing  to  do  was  to  clear  off  a  place  for  a 
garden,  and  Mr.  Hildreth  thought  he  would  burn 
off  the  grass.  It  was  very  dry,  and  the  grass  was 
tall.  He  took  a  clapboard  and  a  few  coals,  and 
touched  it  off.  The  wind  was  blowing  a  stiff  breeze 
from  the  south,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  fire  was 
going  almost  as  fast  as  a  horse  could  run.  Dense 
columns  of  smoke  arose  almost  sky-high,  and  the 
flames  would  rise  100  or  150  feet  high  and  bend 
over  with  the  driving  wind,  and  catch  and  go  again. 
Pandemonium  seemed  to  reign  among  the  varmints 
of  the  prairie  and  birds  of  the  air,  and  the  sight 
was  grand  and  terrible,  and  Mr.  Hildreth,  in  amaze- 
ment and  fright,  was  heard  to  exclaim,  "I  believe  I 
have  done  just  what  they  have  all  been  saying  I 
never  would  do.     I  have  set  the  world  on  fire,  and 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  19 

I  believe  it  will  burn  up  if  no  preventing  Provi- 
dence." We  had  some  difficulty  in  keeping  it  from 
burning  our  cabin.  Father  and  the  boys  came  to  our 
rescue,  and  the  cabin  was  saved.  That  was  the  great- 
est prairie  fire  ever  seen  in  North  Texas,  and  if  it 
stopped  this  side  of  Red  River  we  never  knew  it. 

Our  first  day's  experience,  a  very  large  garden 
spot  burned  off,  with  a  very  little  hope  of  every  get- 
ting it  fenced.  The  wedges  still  in  the  china  tree, 
and  not  a  rail  made.  But  the  watchword  was  to 
never  give  up.  Father  and  Mr.  Simpson  told  Mr. 
Hildreth  that  it  was  a  criminal  offense  to  willfully 
set  the  prairie  on  fire,  and  a  heavy  penalty.  Mr.  Hil- 
dreth after  a  short  time  returned  to  England,  and 
the  last  we  heard  of  him  he  was  at  home  quietly 
resting  in  the  bosom  of  his  family. 

The  wedges  were  cut  out  of  the  china  tree  and 
other  species  of  timber  were  tried  with  better  suc- 
cess, and  after  a  great  deal  of  hard  work  enough 
rails  were  made  to  make  a  cow  pen,  and  my  father 
and  Mr.  Simpson  went  to  South  Texas  and  bought 
thirty  cows  and  calves,  giving  $3.50  per  head,  or 
$7.00  for  a  cow  and  calf.  My  father  bought  eighteen 
and  Mr.  Simpson  twelve,  and  the  little  money  that 
we  had  was  gone.  The  winter  of  1848  was  very  se- 
vere. The  sleet  and  snow  lay  on  the  ground  for 
more  than  three  weeks,  and  it  was  so  bitter  cold  we 
had  to  turn  the  cattle  adrift,  and  they  scattered  to 
the  four  winds,  and  we  nine  of  us  were  huddled  to- 
gether in  the  little  log  cabin  about  12x14  feet,  with 
our  scanty  bedclothing,  and  the  sleet  driving 
through  the  roof,  and  the  north  wind  blowing  a 
perfect  gale.  We  thought  of  the  agents  that  had 
represented  this  to  be  a  delightful  climate,  with  no 
chilling  winds  or  driving  snows,  but  one  continuous 
spring  and  summer,  and  we  were  ready  to  say  that 


20  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

they  were  the  worst  liars  that  ever  came  to  England. 
During  the  severe  winter  we  ground  our  corn  with 
a  hand  mill,  and  would  kill  prairie  chickens  and 
rabbits,  and  occasionally  a  wild  goose,  and  we  lived 
on  cornbread  and  wild  game,  and  after  the  hard 
spell  of  weather  was  over  Father  and  the  boys 
began  to  get  out  timbers  to  build  a  house,  and  when 
the  spring  came  we  went  out  to  search  for  the  cattle, 
and  found  all  of  them.  We  got  them  together,  and 
it  was  not  many  years  before  we  had  a  very  fine 
herd  of  cattle.  The  investment  proved  to  be  a  good 
one,  and  if  it  had  not  been  for  those  cattle  we  would 
have  suffered  much  more  than  we  did. 

Time  passed,  and  the  rough  work  we  had  to  do, 
such  as  splitting  rails  and  hauling  them  out  of  the 
woods,  building  the  fences  and  plowing  the  ground, 
began  to  tell  on  the  good  clothes  we  brought  from 
the  old  country.  We  began  to  look  very  seedy,  and 
the  buttons  came  off,  and  they  were  patched  all 
over.  Mother  and  sister  could  not  spin  or  weave, 
as  the  pioneer  women  could,  and  we  had  no  money. 
I  had  a  nice  frock  coat  made  out  of  rich  navy  blue, 
with  four  rows  of  buttons  in  front,  and  I  wore  it 
so  long  the  neighbor  boys  would  say  when  they  met 
me,  "That  is  the  beatenest  coat  I  ever  seen.  You 
had  it  on  the  first  time  I  ever  seen  you." 

We  attended  the  camp  meetings  in  1849  and  50. 
The  people  came  from  all  quarters  for  forty  or  fifty 
miles,  and  the  campers  were  very  liberal,  providing 
for  them.  The  Webbs,  Knights,  Cochrans,  Wests, 
and  a  number  of  others  had  camps  on  the  ground. 
Our  clothing  was  so  bad  in  1851  that  we  gave  up 
all  hopes  of  attending  the  meeting,  but  my  father 
and  mother  wanted  to  go,  and  he  said  he  would  pro- 
vide a  way  for  us  boys  to  go.  There  was  a  little 
country   store   at   Farmer's   Branch,   and   he   went 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  21 

down  there  and  bought  us  each  a  pair  of  white  can- 
vas pants.  He  and  Mother  said  they  would  go  first 
and  stay  a  day  or  two,  and  we  were  to  remain  at 
home  and  hold  the  fort,  milk  the  cows  and  wait  for 
their  return.  We  had  a  pair  of  nimble  long  horn 
steers.  They  were  hitched  to  the  cart  and  Father 
and  Mother  started  for  the  camp  meeting,  telling 
us  to  be  good  boys,  and  they  would  return  in  a  day 
or  two,  and  then  we  could  go.  After  they  left  we 
held  a  council  and  began  to  talk  about  our  pants. 
We  thought  they  were  very  common,  and  thought 
we  were  entitled  to  something  better.  But  a  happy 
thought  struck  one  of  my  older  brothers.  He  said 
he  had  seen  Mrs.  Meyers,  one  of  our  neighbors, 
dying  cloth  of  this  kind  with  green  walnuts,  and 
we  had  a  very  large  kettle  or  wash  pot,  and  we  de- 
cided at  once  to  dye  the  pants.  Brother  Bill  said 
he  would  get  the  walnuts,  if  I  and  John  would  get 
the  water  hot.  It  was  about  two  miles  to  the  walnut 
grove.  We  had  an  old  white  horse,  and  Bill 
mounted  him.  We  were  all  so  elated  over  the  pro- 
posed dye  works  we  were  going  to  start,  we  were 
in  high  glee.  I  can  see  Bill  now,  as  he  was  going  in 
a  fleet  gallop,  waving  the  sack  over  his  head.  To 
illustrate  how  he  flew  towards  the  walnut  grove,  I 
will  tell  a  story.  There  was  once  upon  a  time  a 
man  that  was  driving  three  yoke  of  oxen  hitched  to 
a  loaded  wagon,  and  one  of  his  oxen  sulked,  or  lay 
down  and  refused  to  go  any  further.  The  man 
whipped  him  and  beat  him  with  his  whip  stock,  but 
all  to  no  purpose.  He  would  not  budge.  A  doctor 
was  riding  by,  and  the  man  stopped  him  and  asked 
him  if  he  could  help  him  any  way,  saying  he  was 
only  eight  miles  from  home.  The  doctor  said  he 
would  try.  He  dismounted,  took  a  small  vial  from 
his  saddle  bags  and  poured  a  little  high  life  on  the 


22  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

bruised  places.  The  steer  made  a  lunge,  split  the 
yoke,  and  was  gone  like  a  shot  with  his  tail  going 
in  a  circle.  The  man  said  in  a  moment,  "Doctor, 
what  is  your  bill?"  the  doctor  said,  "Oh,  nothing." 
The  man  replied,  "I  know  it  is  worth  something." 
The  doctor  said,  "Ten  cents  will  do."  "Here's  your 
money.  Now,  give  me  fifteen  cents  worth  quick  and 
put  it  on  me,  I've  got  that  steer  to  catch ;"  and  I  will 
say  that  Bill  went  across  the  prairie  to  the  walnut 
grove  just  like  he  had  high  life  on  him,  and  by  the 
time  John  and  I  had  the  water  boiling  Bill  returned 
With  about  a  bushel  of  green  walnuts,  and  they  were 
poured  in  the  big  pot.  We  stirred  them 
around  for  a  while,  and  then  put  our  pants  in 
the  pot  and  began  to  stir  then  around  among  the 
walnuts,  each  of  us  with  a  stick  about  four  feet  long, 
going  around  and  around  the  pot,  with  our  long 
white  robes  on,  when  all  at  once  we  lifted  up  our 
eyes  to  behold  a  finely  dressed  lady  appearing  on 
the  scene.  We  not  being  dressed  to  receive  com- 
pany, ran  as  fast  as  we  could  to  a  corn  patch 
that  was  hard  by,  and  occasionally  we  would  come 
to  the  end  of  a  row  and  peep  out.  But  she  seemed  to 
linger.  It  was  said  that  she  had  her  cap  set  for 
Mr.  Simpson,  who  was  living  with  us  at  that  time. 
But  she  finally  dismissed  herself  and  walked  slowly 
away,  and  when  she  got  at  a  safe  distance  we  came 
out  from  our  hiding  place.  She  would  occasionally 
look  back,  and  we  could  see  from  a  distance  that  her 
cap  was  still  setting  for  a  live  Scotchman.  I  will 
not  mention  her  name,  but  I  saw  her  brother  at  the 
old  Mexican  Veterans'  Meeting  at  Dallas,  a  very 
old  man  and  a  Mexican  Veteran.  After  coming 
from  our  hiding  place  we  rushed  to  the  dye  pot  in 
an  almost  frantic  manner ;  but  it  was  too  late.  The 
Rubicon  was  crossed,  and  the  dye  was  cast,  and  our 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  23 

pants  were  of  many  different  colors,  a  streak  of 
white  and  yellow  and  then  a  streak  of  brown,  and 
where  the  walnuts  had  rested  on  them  there  was  a 
black  spot  about  the  size  of  a  marble,  and  we  could 
not  do  anything  to  change  it  for  the  better,  so  we 
hung  them  on  the  fence,  and  would  step  back  and 
look  at  them,  and  all  we  could  say  was,  "The  leopard 
cannot  change  his  spots,  nor  the  Ethiopian  the  color 
of  his  skin,  neither  can  we  change  the  color  of  these 
pants."  If  Joseph  of  old  had  had  a  pair  of  them 
to  match  his  coat  of  many  colors  it  might  have  ex- 
cited the  jealousy  of  his  brethren  to  such  a  degree 
he  may  have  fared  much  worse  than  he  did. 

The  evening  we  expected  our  parents  to  return 
we  put  them  on,  as  it  was  all  we  had,  and  when  they 
hove  in  sight  we  went  out  to  meet  them,  keeping  up 
a  bold  front  and  trying  to  make  it  appear  that  we 
had  made  a  blooming  success  in  the  dye  business, 
but  expecting  all  the  time  a  good  whipping.  But 
the  meeting  was  so  funny,  and  our  appearance  so 
comical,  our  parents  laughed  it  off,  but  refused 
to  let  us  go  to  camp  meeting,  and  the  good  impres- 
sions we  might  have  received  were  postponed  for 
another  twelve  months. 

Time  passed,  and  we  continued  to  work  very 
hard.  Father  and  my  older  brothers  would  make 
rails,  and  with  one  yoke  of  oxen  and  the  old  wagon 
we  had,  would  haul  them  to  the  edge  of  the  prairie, 
and  with  two  yoke  and  a  sled  I  would  haul  them  two 
miles  to  the  place  we  were  trying  to  enclose,  and  we 
never  let  up  nor  gave  up  until  we  had  the  largest 
farm  fenced  in  the  north  part  of  Dallas  County. 
Our  cattle  increased,  and  we  had  a  lot  of  young 
steers  that  we  broke  to  work,  and  we  soon  had  oxen 
for  sale.  That  was  the  only  kind  of  cattle  that  there 
was  much  sale  for,  and  we  began  to  be  in  better 


24  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

circumstances,  and  were  soon  provided  with  re- 
spectable clothing.  My  older  brothers  were  now 
getting  to  be  almost  young  men,  and  there  were  new 
settlers  coining  in  all  the  time,  and  my  brothers  and 
my  oldest  sister  were  beginning  to  want  to  become 
better  acquainted  with  the  young  people,  and  they 
asked  Father  and  Mother  if  they  might  have  a  quilt- 
ing bee.  The  boys  told  Father  they  had  worked 
hard  for  a  long  time,  and  thought  they  ought  to 
have  a  chance  to  get  better  acquainted  with  the 
young  people  and  have  some  kind  of  amusement. 
Our  parents  consented,  and  the  time  was  fixed.  We 
did  not  send  out  any  invitation  cards,  but  Bill  and 
John  took  turn  about  on  our  old  white  horse,  going 
in  different  directions,  inviting  the  young  people  to 
come  to  the  quilting.  This  was  the  first  party  in 
that  part  of  the  country  or  in  Denton  County,  and 
the  young  people  came  from  far  and  near.  We  had 
to  invite  all,  as  it  would  not  do  to  slight  any  one. 
We  had  at  that  time  two  large  rooms  to  our  house, 
and  three  small  ones. 

The  time  came  at  last,  and  the  boys  and  girls 
came  from  every  quarter,  and  the  quiits  were  sur- 
rounded, and  the  girls  were  busy  until  the  middle 
of  the  evening.  The  quilts  were  completed  and  re- 
moved, and  the  rooms  cleared,  and  the  young  people 
engaged  in  games  and  singing.  But  later  a  part  of 
them  wanted  to  dance,  and  a  part  objected.  Some 
of  them  went  to  Father  and  asked  him  if  they  could 
dance,  and  he  said  he  had  no  objections.  They  se- 
cured a  fiddler,  placed  him  in  a  corner  on  a  raw  hide 
chair,  and  he  began  to  tune  up,  and  some  one  said, 
''Get  your  partners  for  a  cotillion."  I  was  then 
nearly  fifteen  years  old,  but  had  never  been  to  a 
dance,  but  I  had  been  casting  sheep's  eyes  at  a  very 
beautiful  little  girl  about  thirteen  years  old,  and  I 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  25 

would  have  almost  given  my  life  to  have  got  a 
chance  to  talk  to  her,  and  when  they  called  for  part- 
ners for  the  cotillion  I  thought  now  was  my  chance, 
and  I  advanced  towards  her  to  ask  her  to  dance 
with  me.  But  when  I  got  in  front  of  her  I  was 
paralyzed  and  speechless.  My  heart  seemed  to  come 
up  in  my  throat  and  got  in  my  mouth.  But  I  did 
have  power  to  extend  my  right  hand,  and  she  saw 
distressing  and  painful  condition  I  was  in,  and  she 
must  have  had  pity  on  me.  She  gave  me  her  hand, 
and  we  were  the  first  couple  on  the  floor.  The  set 
was  soon  made  up,  and  the  fiddle  began  to  play,  and 
some  one  said,  ''Who  is  going  to  prompt  for  us?" 
Well,  I  did  not  know  what  that  meant,  but  present- 
ly a  fellow  called  out  in  a  loud  voice,  "Honor  to  your 
partners,  lady  on  the  left!"  and  they  all  began  to 
bow.  I  must  confess  I  did  not  make  much  of  a 
Chesterfieldian  bow,  but  I  got  as  graceful  a  curve 
on  me  as  I  possibly  could.  Then  the  call  was,  "Join 
hands  and  circle  to  the  left!"  Well,  that  was  easy. 
The  next  call  came  in  a  very  loud  and  commanding 
tone,  "Turn  'em  loose,  and  every  man  to  his 
puncheon,  and  balance  all !"  I  am  sure  it  would 
have  provoked  a  hearty  laugh  from  the  soberest 
judge  that  ever  Dallas  County  produced  to  have  seen 
us  facing  those  pretty  girls  and  trying  to  keep  time 
with  that  frisky  fiddle,  as  the  tall  man  in  the  corner 
kept  playing  fast  and  furious  on  the  one  old  tune, 
on  his  three-string  fiddle — 

"Chicken  in  the  bread  tray  picking  up  the  dough, 
Granny,  will  your  dog  bite?     No,  child,  no." 

But  the  merry  makers  seemed  to  enjoy  it,  proba- 
bly better  than  the  learned  professor  enjoys  the 
'classic  music  of  to-day.  The  dancing  was  kept  up 
all  night,  and  the  tall  fiddler  in  the  corner  stuck  to 


26  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

the  old  tune,  and  when  the  gray  streaks  of  dawn 
began  to  appear  in  the  east  the  revelers  began  to 
take  their  leave.  Some  went  in  carts,  some  horse- 
back, with  their  girls  behind  them.  Other  girls  had 
their  own  horse  and  saddle,  and  most  of  the  girls 
in  those  days  were  good  horseback  riders.  So  the 
first  party  of  Dallas  County  was  over,  past  and  gone 
into  history,  and  the  boys  and  girls  had  something 
to  talk  about  for  a  long  time. 

In  the  morning  Father  walked  out  around  the 
farm,  and  in  almost  every  fence  corner  a  horse  had 
been  fed;  and  he  said  quiltings  were  rather  expen- 
sive, and  he  would  have  to  enlarge  the  farm  before 
we  had  many  more. 

In  those  early  days  we  had  to  haul  all  our  mer- 
chandise, groceries  and  supplies  of  every  kind  with 
ox  teams  from  Houston  or  Jefferson,  and  it  got  to 
be  quite  a  business,  and  those  freighters  made  good 
money.  They  would  get  from  three  to  three  and  a 
half  dollars  per  hundredweight  for  hauling  freight 
from  these  points.  My  father  rigged  up  a  team  of 
five  yoke  of  oxen  and  a  big  wagon.  Two  yoke  of 
the  oxen  were  wild,  and  he  started  me  to  Jefferson 
to  haul  a  load  of  freight  to  McKinney.  That  was  the 
first  time  that  I  had  spent  more  than  one  night  away 
from  home.  I  shall  never  forget  that  trip.  There 
was  quite  a  train  of  us.  We  reached  Jefferson  all 
right,  loaded  our  freight,  between  four  and  five 
thousand  pounds  on  each  wagon.  Several  barrels 
of  whiskey  made  a  part  of  the  load.  My  brother 
William  had  two  long  teams  and  wagons,  and  he  had 
a  Yankee  driving  one  of  his  teams,  that  was  rather 
a  rough  fellow,  but  quite  a  genius,  and  if  anything 
went  wrong  he  was  always  ready  to  suggest  a 
remedy,  and  if  anything  of  importance  was  to  be 
done  the  Yankee  could  be  heard  to  say,  ''Hold,  hold, 
let  me  suggest!" 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  27 

We  moved  slowly  along  with  our  heavy  loads 
on  our  return  trip.  One  of  the  oxen,  a  very  heavy 
one,  became  very  tenderfooted  and  got  worse  every 
day,  and  one  morning  before  we  had  traveled  far 
the  ox  laid  down  and  refused  to  budge,  and  all  of 
the  long  train  was  stopped.  There  were  probably 
thirty  yoke  of  oxen  in  the  train.  Those  teamsters 
were  rather  rough,  but  they  were  true  to  one 
another.  They  would  never  desert  a  comrade  that 
had  fallen  by  the  way.  A  valuable  lesson"  might  be 
learned  from  these  boys  by  people  that  are  now  in 
such  a  scuffle  trying  to  get  ahead  of  their  neighbors. 
"Well,"  said  one  of  the  boys,  "it  is  no  use.  We 
might  as  well  turn  out  our  oxen  for  a  few  days  and 
rest,  and  then  try  it  again."  And  some  of  them 
began  to  unhitch,  when  the  Yankee  was  heard  to 
exclaim,  "Hold,  hold,  let  me  suggest.  Boys,"  he 
said,  "Let  us  shoe  this  ox."  Then  one  of  the  boys 
replied,  "We  have  got  no  leather  nor  anything  else 
to  shoe  him  with."  The  Yankee  replied,  "Let  me 
suggest.  We  have  a  lot  of  sides  of  bacon.  We  can 
shoe  him  with  bacon  rind."  At  once  some  of  the 
sides  of  bacon  were  got  out,  and  a  piece  larger  than 
a  dinner  plate  cut  off  for  each  shoe,  and  the  experts 
went  to  work  making  shoes  for  that  ox.  They  were 
made  and  placed  upon  the  feet  of  the  ox,  a  very 
good  backwoods  fit,  and  one  of  the  boys  told  the 
driver  to  get  his  whip  and  make  that  ox  get  up. 
Before  he  had  time  to  strike  the  Yankee  was  heard 
to  exclaim  again,  "Hold,  hold,  let  me  suggest.  Boys, 
let  us  give  him  a  dram  of  whiskey,"  and  several  of 
the  boys  answered  in  chorus,  "All  right." 

The  best  barrel  had  been  tapped,  and  the  boys 
had  been  drinking  it.  They  drew  a  quart  bottle  full 
of  the  very  best  brand,  and  one  of  the  boys  held  him 
by  the  nose  and  horns,  and  another  one  poured  the 
bottle  of  whiskey  down  his     throat.     The  old  ox 


28  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

licked  out  his  tongue  and  smacked  his  lips  and  got 
up,  and  for  a  while  he  was  as  frisky  as  a  young  colt 
with  his  new  bacon  rind  slippers  and  morning  dram. 
He  tried  to  pull  the  whole  load,  and  our  long  train 
again  moved  slowly  on  towards  McKinney  and  we 
reached  there  in  due  time,  and  the  freight  was  un- 
loaded. The  barrel  of  best  whiskey  was  a  little  light, 
and  Mr.  Newsome,  the  merchant,  noticed  it,  and  the 
boys  told  him  they  had  been  using  it  and  expected  to 
pay  for  it.  But  he  said,  "Never  mind,  boys.  I  ex- 
pect it  was  necessary  for  you  to  have  your  morning 
dram  down  in  that  malarial  district."  He  paid  us 
all  in  gold.  I  carried  mine  home,  every  cent  of  it, 
and  gave  it  to  my  father.  The  family  needed  it  very 
bad.  I  freighted  several  years  hauling  flour  to  the 
Indians,  and  lumber  from  the  pine  mills,  and  earned 
money  to  keep  up  the  family.  In  regard  to  the  boys 
drinking  the  whiskey  on  this  trip  I  will  say  that  I 
do  not  know  of  any  bad  results  that  followed.  But 
will  say  that  later  in  life  I  have  seen  so  much  of 
the  bad  effects  arising  from  the  use  of  whiskey  that 
I  hope  the  traffic  may  be  suppressed  altogether. 

When  my  two  older  brothers  were  seventeen  and 
eighteen  years  old  they  thought  they  ought  to  have 
horses  of  their  own  to  ride  wherever  they  wanted  to 
go.  But  neither  they  nor  Father  had  any  money  to 
buy  them  with.  There  were  many  of  the  pioneers 
trying  to  open  up  their  farms,  and  there  was  quite  a 
demand  for  large  teams  to  break  up  the  prairie,  and 
three  dollars  per  acre  was  the  price  offered.  My 
father  rigged  up  a  large  team  for  the  boys,  and  set 
them  to  work  breaking  prairie  to  earn  money  to  buy 
their  horses,  and  they  soon  had  the  money  in  hand. 

There  was  a  large  herd  of  Spanish  ponies  fresh 
from  Mexico  in  the  neighborhood,  and  the  boys  de- 
cided to  buy  a  couple  and  break  them  to  ride.  They 
selected  two  very  pretty  looking  ones,  and  the  Mex- 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 


29 


ican  herders  threw  the  lasso  over  their  heads  and 
threw  them  down  and  put  halters  on  them,  and  the 
boys  staked  them  out  and  kept  them  a  few  weeks  and 
broke  them  to  lead,  and  one  Sunday  morning'  they 
decided  to  ride  them  to  meeting.  The  Mexican  herd- 
ers were  to  help  them  to  put  the  saddles  and  bridles 
on.  The  ponies  were  thrown  down  and  blindfolded, 
and  the  bridles  put  on,  and  then  saddled.  John,  my 
oldest  brother,  got  on  his  first,  and  the  blindfold  was 
taken  off,  and  the  pony  went  like  a  shot,  John  hold- 
ing to  the  horn  of  the  saddle.     The  pony  circled 


John   Jackson,   Jr.,   Going   to    Meeting 

around  a  little  and  then  took  a  straight  shoot  to- 
wards Dallas,  passing  the  meeting  house  on  Farmers 
Branch,  and  never  stopped  for  services,  but  kept 
going  like  the  wind,  John  still  holding  to  the  horn 
of  the  saddle  like  that  was  his  only  saviour.  That 
was  the  only  thing  he  had  to  hold  to.  The  bridle 
reins  were  gone.  He  reached  the  place  near  where 
the  suburbs  of  Dallas  now  stand,  and  then  took  a 
grand  circle  towards  White  Rock.  John  was  still 
holding  as  tight  as  ever  Mazeppa  did,  that  was  bound 
to  the  wild  horse,  passing  people  and  every  object  on 
the  road  like  the  fleetest  race  horse,  and  about  two 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  they  rounded  up  near  Farm- 
ers Branch  and  the  pony  stopped  among  a  bunch  of 


30 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 


gentle  horses,  and  John  dismounted,  holding  to  a 
rope  that  was  around  the  horse's  neck,  and  he  led 
him  to  a  neighbor's  and  rested  for  a  few  hours,  and 
borrowed  a  bridle  and  mounted  him  again  and  reach- 
ed home  just  before  dark,  and  told  us  the  round  the 


WILLIAM  JACKSON 

I  can  ride  anything  that  ever  looked  through  a  bridle. 

pony  had  taken  him,  and  said  he  was  tired,  but  said 
his  pony  had  good  wind  and  the  best  bottom  of  any 
animal  that  ever  came  from  Mexico. 

After  John  had  left  Bill  was  anxious  to  try  his. 
The  pony  was  thrown  down  and  blindfolded,  and 
the  bridle  put  on.    Bill  had  an  old  leather  turtle-shell 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  31 

looking  saddle  that  they  girted  on  hard  and  fast, 
and  some  of  them  asked  him  if  he  could  stick  to  him 
with  that  saddle,  and  he  replied  that  he  could  ride 
anything  that  ever  looked  through  a  bridle.  Bill 
mounted,  and  the  blindfold  was  taken  off,  and  away 
the  pony  went  like  a  shot,  but  did  not  go  far  until 
he  began  to  pitch  and  buck,  and  Bill  and  the  pony 
parted  company.  Bill  went  up,  up,  and  the  pony 
went  on.  When  Bill  came  down  and  pulled  himself 
together  he  came  back  to  where  the  crowd  was  stand- 
ing, and  asked  father  if  he  didn't  think  he  had  better 
trade  him  for  something  gentle,  which  he  afterwards 
did. 

The  boys  always  had  horses  to  ride  after  that. 

The  Jacksons  did  some  foolish  things,  but  wher- 
ever a  Jackson  was  found  there  was  always  some- 
thing doing.  They  would  make  a  spoon  or  spoil  a 
horn,  as  the  old  pioneers  used  to  say. 

I  will  again  go  back  to  the  year  1848,  and  say  a 
few  words  in  regard  to  the  first  crop  we  made  in 
Texas.  There  was  no  land  for  rent.  The  farmers 
then  were  just  making  a  beginning  and  opening  up 
farms  for  themselves.  None  of  them  had  enough 
in  cultivation  for  themselves. 

But  these  old  pioneers  looked  on  one  another  as 
brethren,  and  felt  in  duty  bound  to  help  each  other, 
and  Mr.  Marsh,  the  father  of  the  late  Thomas  and 
Dave  Marsh  of  this  county,  proposed  to  let  my  father 
have  three  acres  to  sow  in  wheat;  and  Mr.  R.  J. 
West,  the  father  of  the  late  Judge  West  and  John 
West  of  this  city,  agreed  to  rent  us  six  or  eight  acres 
for  corn.  These  old  people  have  long  gone  to  their 
reward,  but  they  remained  our  friends  until  the  day 
of  their  death,  and  such  friends  were  a  blessing  to 
all  that  knew  them  as  we  did.  We  made  a  very  good 
crop  of  wheat  and  threshed  the  first  out  with  a  flail, 
and  ground  it  with  our  hand-mill.     That  was  the 


32 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 


sweetest  bread  that  I  ever  remember  of  eating.  Our 
corn  crop  had  to  be  cultivated.  We  broke  up  the 
land  with  oxen,  and  planted  the  corn. 

The  rented  land  was  situated  about  3V^  miles 
from  our  cabin,  and  on  Sunday  evening  we  two  or 
three  of  us  boys  would  ride  an  old  gentle  ox  that 
we  had  to  the  field  to  be  ready  early  Monday  morn- 
ing to  begin  plowing,  and  would  camp  there  during 


3&    --S    -Sr^-_^ 
Going  to  the  Field  Sunday  Evening 


the  week.  I  would  lead  the  ox,  and  one  of  my 
brothers  held  the  plow,  and  the  other  brother  pull 
the  weeds  from  around  the  corn.  We  would  work 
that  way  during  the  week,  and  on  Saturdey  evening 
we  would  all  go  home  to  our  cabin.  We  made  a 
splendid  crop  of  corn,  and  the  corn  and  wheat  we 
raised  the  first  year  put  us  in  good  shape  with  bread 
a  plenty  and  to  spare.  The  first  load  of  corn  we 
bought  in  '48  we  had  to  haul  from  near  Red  River. 
In  the  year  1849  there  was  quite  a  number  of  fami- 
lies in  Dallas,  and  we  had  twelve  or  fifteen  good 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  33 

milk  cows,  and  we  proposed  to  furnish  the  town  in 
all  the  butter  they  wanted;  and  on  the  other  hand, 
they,  the  people  of  Dallas,  or  some  of  them,  agreed 
to  take  all  the  good,  fresh  butter  we  could  bring 
them,  and  pay  a  fair  price  for  it ;  and  it  was  agreed 
that  we  three  boys  should  take  turn  about  deliver- 
ing the  butter  with  the  old  white  horse,  the  only 
one  that  we  had,  and  everything  looked  promising 
for  awhile.  But  it  did  not  take  us  long  to  glut  the 
market.  We  brought  so  much  it  became  a  drug  on 
the  market,  and  we  gave  the  business  up.  I  some- 
times now  look  at  the  crowded  street  of  Dallas,  the 
stately  buildings,  the  finely  dressed  people,  the  met- 
ropolitan air  and  appearance,  and  I  say  to  myself, 
what  a  change  time  has  wrought! 

New  York  has  its  four  hundred  of  the  wealthy 
and  select,  and  only  a  few  can  get  within  that  inner 
circle.  Dallas  may  not  be  able  to  boast  of  that 
large  number,  but  the  aristocratic  and  wealthy  of 
Dallas  are  forming  a  circle  slowly  but  surely  where 
the  common  herd  can  never  be  admitted.  I  often 
look  back  to  the  early  settlers  of  Dallas  County,  and 
I  frequently  count  over  the  different  families,  and 
think  of  the  good  old  days,  when  we  were  all  free 
and  equal,  and  seemed  to  be  on  the  same  footing. 
Although  many  of  the  old  settlers  of  this  county 
were  educated  and  refined,  yet  it  is  equally  true  that 
some  of  them  could  not  move  with  that  ease  and 
grace  in  fashionable  society  as  some  that  came  later 
on.  But  I  will  say  that  they  had  hearts,  as  true  as 
steel.  They  were  men  and  women  that  would  be 
at  your  bed-side  in  the  day  and  hour  of  sicknes.° 
with  a  willing  heart  and  a  helping  hand  to  admini" 
ter  to  your  wants.  They  were  men  and  women  that 
would  weep  with  you  in  the  day  of  your  afflictiox 
and  trouble,  and  would  rejoice  with  you  in  the  day 
of  your  good  fortune  and  prosperity.     These  men 


34  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

with  their  ax  in  one  hand  blazed  out  the  way 
for  those  that  came  later  on,  and  with  their  trusty 
rifle  in  the  other  they  protected  their  wives  and  lit- 
tle ones  from  the  attacks  of  the  wily  savage,  know- 
ing no  fear  save  the  fear  of  their  God.  Here  in  the 
wilderness  in  1846  the  first  Baptist  Church  was  or- 
ganized near  Farmers'  Branch,  by  Rev.  David 
Myers,  with  only  five  members.  They,  a  few  of  them, 
met  together  with  their  wives  and  children  and  in- 
vited the  blessings  of  Almighty  God  down  upon 
them,  and  placed  themselves  under  His  protection. 
These  old  people,  may  God  bless  them !  most  of  them 
have  passed  over  the  River.  But  I  will  say  they 
are  the  kind  of  people  that  I  like  to  meet  with  yet. 
I  like  to  shake  their  hands  when  they  come,  the 
up  and  dowm  motion,  you  can  feel  the  whole  weight 
of  a  great  heart  press  down  upon  your  hand.  They 
are  the  kind  of  people  I  should  like  to  have  around 
my  bed  when  I  press  my  dying  pillow.  And  when  I 
cross  over  the  River,  if  I  am  so  fortunate  as  to 
reach  that  Heaven  of  rest,  in  which  I  have  a  living 
and  abiding  faith,  I  shall  expect  to  meet  them  there, 
because  I  believe  the  virtuous,  the  true,  the  honest 
and  brave  will  ne'er  go  unrewarded. 

In  regard  to  the  descendants  of  John  and  Mary 
Jackson — they  are  getting  rather  numerous.  There 
is  probably  in  all  about  145.  Those  of  Mr.  Lionel 
Simpson  are  not  near  so  numerous,  and  among  them 
there  are  farmers,  merchants,  stockmen,  a  lawyer 
or  two,  a  banker,  and  I  do  not  know  one  among 
them  but  what  is  good  for  his  promises,  and  will 
say  I  think  there  is  not  one  of  the  descendants  of 
either  family  that  has  not  made  a  good  citizen.  It 
may  not  become  me  to  say  this,  and  I  am  sure  I 
do  not  say  it  boastingly,  but  still,  I  am  proud  of  it. 
I  say  it  because  fate  seemed  to  be  against  us  in  the 
beginning,  and  our  neighbor  boys  seemed  to  make 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  35 

sport  of  us  in  the  beginning,  because  we  did  not  have 
that  tact  and  skill  that  qualified  us  for  frontier  life. 
But  we  had  the  grit  and  determination  never  to  give 
up  short  of  success.  Many  have  died  and  others 
have  dropped  out  of  the  old  neighborhood,  but  the 
descendants  of  Lionel  Simpson  and  John  and  Mary 
Jackson  own  the  land  for  many  miles. 

My  father  died  in  the  spring  of  1866,  just  after 
the  close  of  the  War  between  the  States.  He  lived 
to  see  all  of  his  sons  return  after  that  bloody  con- 
flict, and  we  had  a  grand  reunion,  and  a  glorious 
time,  that  lasted  for  many  days;  and  my  dear  old 
mother  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  surrounded  by  her 
children  and  grand-children,  with  all  the  comforts 
of  this  life,  loved  by  all  who  knew  her.  At  the  age 
of  87  years  she  crossed  over  the  river  and  went 
to  her  reward. 

I  admire  and  love  the  old  pioneer  women,  and 
think  them  superior  in  many  respects  to  the  women 
of  the  present.  But  I  would  not  think  of  making 
any  unfavorable  comments  on  the  noble  women  of 
the  present  age.  Many  of  them  are  in  the  forefront 
of  every  charitable  and  Christian  enterprise,  al- 
ways doing  something  for  the  betterment  of  others. 
They  move  gracefully  about  with  a  crown  of  flow- 
ers on  their  heads  and  dressed  in  a  garb  that  seems 
to  have  been  woven  from  the  moonbeams  of  mid- 
summer. Their  attractive  appearance,  and  good 
works,  will  always  be  admired  by  good  men.  But 
let  us  turn  to  the  old  pioneers  and  look  at  the  grand 
old  women  that  stood  by  their  husbands  faithful  and 
true.  They  endured  the  hardships,  suffered  the 
privations,  braved  the  dangers,  and  overcame  the 
difficulties  that  are  incident  to  a  new  and  a  wild 
country,  without  a  murmur  of  complaint ;  and  when 
I  think  of  my  dear  old  mother,  weak  and  frail  in 
body,  but  strong  in  mind  and  spirit,  how  she  worked 


36  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

almost  night  and  day  for  her  children — when  I  think 
of  her  that  kissed  away  my  tears  in  infancy  and 
in  youth,  and  counselled  and  rightly  advised  me  in 
early  manhood,  my  heart  overflows,  my  eyes  become 
moist,  and  my  whole  life  of  love  goes  out  after  her, 
and  I  admire  and  love  and  praise  and  revere  her 
blessed  name.  Those  old  pioneers,  both  men  and 
women,  seemed  to  be  possessed  with  the  same  spirit 
that  controlled  Bowie,  Crockett  and  the  heroes  that 
gave  their  lives  that  Texas  might  be  free.  It  was 
they  that  blazed  out  the  way  and  laid  the  founda- 
tion in  this  country,  that  made  it  possible  for  those 
that  came  later  on  to  enjoy  the  benefits  and  bless- 
ings of  this  glorious  country. 

There  have  been  many  monuments  raised  that 
we  may  remember  the  heroes  and  great  persons  of 
past  ages.  We  have  monuments  of  our  Confederate 
generals  that  gave  their  lives  to  a  cause  they  be- 
lieved to  be  right,  and  I  should  like  to  see  a  monu- 
ment raised  that  would  tower  above  all  others  in 
memory  of  the  old  pioneers,  facing  to  the  west,  with 
his  ax  in  one  hand  and  his  trusty  rifle  in  the  other, 
with  his  faithful  wife  by  his  side,  with  her  Bible 
in  one  hand  and  distaff  in  the  other. 


:  73  <w  : 


MM 


i v 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  39 

THE  OLD  LOG  CABIN  HOME. 

Dear  memory's  chain  has  bound  my  heart 

To  my  old  log  cabin  home, 
And  the  boundless  prairie  free  as  air, 

Where  once  I  loved  to  roam. 

When  the  deer  was  on  the  prairie, 

And  the  turkeys  in  the  tree, 
And  the  bear  was  plenty  in  the  woods 

And  as  fat  as  fat  could  be. 

Then  the  world  seemed  free  and  easy, 

No  selfishness  nor  pride, 
And  those  that  had  a  plenty 

Were  always  ready  to  divide. 

All  men  then  seemed  like  brothers, 

And  for  help  in  vain  we'd  ne'er  appeal, 

For  we  knew  that  all  our  neighbors 
Had  hearts  as  true  as  steel. 

I  shall  ever  love  and  praise  the  pioneer 

Wherever  I  may  roam, 
And  kindly  love  those  dear  old  friends, 

And  our  old  log  cabin  home. 

When  I  visit  gilded  halls  and  palaces, 

In  company  or  alone, 
My  heart  not  there,  I  am  not  right,  I  do  not  feel  at 

home, 
My  mind  turns  back  to  my  dear  old  friends  and  our 

old  log  cabin  home. 
It  was  there  my  dear  old  mother, 

With  kind  and  loving  care, 
Attended  to  my  every  want, 

And  all  my  troubles  seemed  to  share. 

With  troubled  heart  and  scalding  tears 

Sometimes  when  I'm  alone 
I  think  of  my  kind  and  dear  old  mother, 

And  our  old  log  cabin  home. 


40  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

In  regard  to  the  descendants  of  John  and  Mary 
Jackson :  They  had  seven  children  that  grew  to  be 
men  and  women,  four  sons  and  three  daughters. 
John  Jackson,  Jr.,  my  oldest  brother,  died  the  17th 
of  July,  1904,  leaving  his  second  wife  and  one 
daughter.  He  left  five  sons  by  his  first  wife.  He 
lived  on  the  same  place  that  he  first  improved  for 
nearly  fifty  years,  and  had  acquired  a  large  body 
of  land,  giving  each  one  of  his  five  sons  a  farm,  and 
had  a  beautiful  place  of  his  own,  640  acres,  and  at 
the  time  of  his  death  his  homestead,  with  its  at- 
tractive residence  and  surroundings  formed  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  rural  places  in  the  county.  He 
felt  it  his  duty  to  enter  the  service  of  his  adopted 
country.  He  enlisted  in  William  Jackson's,  his 
brother's,  company,  and  served  only  six  months  and 
was  discharged  on  account  of  sickness.  He  served 
as  Justice  of  Precinct  No.  1  several  years. 

William  Jackson,  the  next  oldest  brother,  served 
with  the  rangers  in  General  Darnell's  company  in 
1858,  and  '59,  and  early  in  the  war  he  enlisted  in 
W.  H.  Witt's  company  and  was  elected  first  lieuten- 
ant, and  later  Capt.  Witt  resigned  and  he  was  elect- 
ed captain  of  the  company.  He  married  Miss  Mat- 
tie  Harris,  a  cousin  of  Chief  Harris,  of  the  Cherokee 
Nation,  and  not  long  after  the  war  he  moved  to  the 
Cherokee  Nation  and  settled  near  Fort  Gibson.  He 
was  elected  to  the  Cherokee  Legislature,  and  served 
for  some  time,  and  was  appointed  as  one  of  the  com- 
mittee to  meet  and  confer  with  the  Dawes  Commis- 
sion. He  practiced  law  for  many  years  in  the  Cher- 
okee country.  He  is  now  73  years  old,  and  had  a 
stroke  of  paralysis  two  years  ago,  and  has  been  very 
feeble  since.  He  has  two  sons  and  one  daughter 
living,  and  they  are  married  and  doing  well.  The 
oldest  son,  William  Jackson,  Jr.,  was  Commissioner 
of  Denton  County. 


JOHN  JACKSON,  JR. 


CAPTAIN  WILLIAM  JACKSON 


MR.  FRANK  JACKSON 


MRS.  FRANK  JACKSON 


W.   R.  DUDLEY 


MARY  ANN  JACKSON  DUDLEY 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  49 

Frank  Jackson,  my  younger  brother,  enlisted  in 
William  Jackson's  company  when  quite  young,  and 
was  in  active  service  until  the  battle  of  Elk  Creek. 
He  was  wounded  in  that  battle  by  the  explosion  of 
a  shell,  his  skull  being  fractured  badly.  A  piece  of 
his  skull  was  taken  off  nearly  as  large  as  a  half  dol- 
lar, and  left  his  brain  exposed  and  some  of  his  brains 
came  out,  and  they  did  not  think  it  possible  for  him 
to  recover.  But  he  did.  It  took  six  or  seven  years 
for  his  skull  to  heal  up.  He  married  Miss  Lizzie 
Hunter  not  long  after  the  war.  She  was  a  native  of 
Dallas  county  and  reared  six  miles  north  of  Dallas, 
and  they  have  had  twelve  children  born  to  them. 
Ten  are  living,  six  sons  and  four  daughters.  The 
sons  are  all  married.  The  daughters  are  at  home 
with  the  parents.  The  sons,  several  of  them,  are  at 
Wichita  Falls  in  business  and  doing  well.  The  old- 
est son,  J.  L.  Jackson,  owns  valuable  property  in 
Wichita  Falls,  and  is  considered  wealthy.  The  sec- 
ond son,  Henry,  is  cashier  of  the  bank  at  Orange. 
He  married  the  daughter  of  Judge  Holland.  The 
other  sons  are  in  the  hardware  and  implement  busi- 
ness at  Wichita  Falls.  And  brother  Frank,  their 
father,  is  still  on  the  farm,  and  owns  a  part  of  the 
old  homestead  we  first  settled  when  we  came  to 
Texas.    He  owns  a  300-acre  farm. 

My  oldest  sister,  Mrs.  W.  R.  Dudley,  died  many 
years  ago.  W.  R.  Dudley  married  again  to  Miss  Eva 
Carnes.  He  departed  this  life  about  ten  years  ago 
and  Mrs.  Dudley  is  living  on  the  old  place. 
They  left  three  daughters  and  one  son.  The 
two  youngest  daughters  died  several  years  ago.  The 
other  daughter  is  living  in  Dallas.  She  married  W. 
J.  Everett.  They  have  five  children  living,  and  two 
dead.  The  oldest  son,  William  Everett,  is  married 
and  works  for  the  Dallas  News.  The  oldest  daugh- 
ter, Nora,  married  Mr.  Crowder,  the  District  Clerk 


50  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

of  Denton  County,  and  has  since  died.  The  oldest 
son,  John  Dudley,  married  Mattie  Everett.  They 
reside  in  Piano.  They  have  six  children.  The  oldest 
daughter  married  Wallace  Houston,  of  McKinney,  a 
lawyer.  He  was  elected  County  Attorney,  and 
served  his  term  out,  and  now  has  a  good  law  prac- 
tice. The  next  daughter  married  a  Mr.  Claude  Jas- 
per, the  son  of  a  banker  at  Piano.  John  Dudley  is 
a  successful  stock  trader,  and  has  done  well  in  Piano. 

In  regard  to  my  own  family,  I  will  say  my  wife 
and  I  have  been  married  nearly  forty-four  years, 
and  we  have  not  yet  had  a  death  in  our  family.  Mrs. 
Lydia  Jackson,  my  wife,  was  the  second  daughter  of 
Abraham  and  Caroline  Hewitt,  of  Leesburg,  Vir- 
ginia. She  was  born  and  reared  in  Leesburg  until 
the  age  of  15  years.  She  moved  with  her  parents  to 
Missouri  in  1858.  Her  father  and  people  were  loyal 
to  the  Union,  and  moved  to  Kansas  before  the  close 
of  the  war.  We  have  four  children,  two  sons  and. 
two  daughters.  Our  oldest  son,  Edward,  is  living 
in  Frisco,  Collin  County.  He  is  married,  and  they 
have  four  children.  He  is  in  the  hardware  and  im- 
plement business  at  that  place. 

Roy,  our  second  son,  married  Miss  Hattie  Hens- 
ley,  daughter  of  John  Hensley,  of  Jacksboro,  and 
they  have  five  children.  They  live  at  Fort  Worth, 
and  he  has  charge  of  the  Hicks  Stock  Yards  at  that 
place. 

Carrie,  our  oldest  daughter,  married  Dr.  C.  L. 
Morey,  a  dentist.  They  have  no  children.  He  is  a 
partner  of  Dr.  Rice,  and  they  have  their  office  in 
the  Wilson  Building,  Dallas,  Texas,  and  they  seem 
to  be  doing  a  good  business. 

Emma,  our  youngest  daughter,  married  Mr.  A. 
C.  Pepple..  They  have  three  children.  He  is  the 
steel  furniture  man,  and  has  been  in  that  business 
seventeen  years.     They  are    living    at    983    Bryan 


MRS.  GEORGE  JACKSON 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  53 

street,  Dallas.  He  has  done  a  fine  business,  and  is 
known  throughout  the  State.  My  wife  and  I  are  liv- 
ing with  them  in  our  declining  years. 

Fanny  Jackson,  second  sister,  married  William 
Furneaux,  and  have  been  mentioned  elsewhere  in 
this  book.  They  had  four  children  born  to  them,  J. 
H.  Furneaux,  John  and  William  Furneaux,  and 
Mary  Furneaux.  Mary  married  J.  R.  McFarland, 
the  druggist.  He  and  his  brother  own  the  drug  store 
at  598  Elm  street,  Dallas.  The  Furneaux  own  three 
thousand  acres  of  land  in  the  north  part  of  Dallas 
County,  and  the  south  part  of  Denton  County,  most 
of  it  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 

My  youngest  sister,  Susan,  married  James  H. 
Mathis,  December  18th,  1865.  They  now  reside  in 
Dallas.  He  came  to  Texas  in  1855  with  his  parents. 
He  enlisted  in  Company  E,  18th  Texas  Cavalry,  and 
was  in  many  battles,  the  Battle  of  Ark  Post,  Chicka- 
mauga,  Rescoa,  New  Hope  Church,  Peach  Tree 
Creek,  and  the  Battles  of  Atlanta  on  the  21st  and 
22nd  of  July;  in  the  latter  he  was  taken  prisoner, 
and  spent  about  eight  months  in  Camp  Chase  Prison 
at  Columbus,  Ohio.  He  was  also  a  prisoner  about 
four  months  at  Camp  Douglas,  Chicago,  Illinois, 
having  been  captured  with  the  entire  command  at 
Ark  Post. 

Their  children,  Flora  and  Martha,  are  single 
and  reside  with  their  parents.  John  Morris,  their 
oldest  son,  died  March  21st,  1908,  leaving  a  widow 
and  three  children.  Her  maiden  name  was  Carrie 
Boone.  John  M.  Mathis  spent  about  thirteen  years 
in  active  work  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  as  Principal  Sec- 
retary at  Houston  and  Dallas,  and  as  General  Sec- 
retary in  the  Railroad  Y.  M.  C.  A.  in  Smithville  and 
San  Antonio,  having  opened  the  work  at  both  places. 
The  youngest  son,  Arthur  S.  Mathis,  married  Miss 
Laura  Towles,  and  they  have  one  son.     He  himself 


54  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

occupies  a  prominent  position  as  purchasing  agent 
and  assistant  manager  with  Smith  &  Lamar,  agents 
for  the  Methodist  Publishing  House  of  the  M.  E. 
Church   in   Dallas. 

There   are  now   about   145   of  the   connection, 
counting  those  that  have  married  into  the  family. 
We  have  had  two  reunions  at  my  brother's  near  the 
old  homestead  in  1901  and  1903  that  lasted  three 
days  each  time,  and  we  succeeded  in  getting  most 
of  them  together.    We  had  music  and  speeches,  and 
had  a  very  enjoyable  time,  and  about  two  hundred 
took  dinner  with  us  each  day.    We  had  a  dozen  cooks 
and  twice  as  many  waiters,  and  the  best  the  coun- 
try afforded  was  placed  on  the  tables,  and  we  talked 
of  old  times  and  the  hardships  we  had  gone  through, 
the  privations  and  difficulties  of  frontier  life.     We 
labored  under  many  difficulties  when  we  first  came 
to  Texas,  and  were  considered  green  in  the  ways  of 
frontier  life,  and  the  only  redeeming  feature  we  had 
was  grit,  but  it  was  a  hard  struggle  between  grit 
and  green,  but  grit  was  successful  and  did  predomi- 
nate in  the  end.    When  I  was  ten  years  old  in  the 
spring  of  1849  I  did  my  first  plowing,  with  a  large 
yoke  of  oxen.    I  had  a  line  around  the  horns  of  the 
near  ox,  and  I  placed  it  around  my  body,  and  got 
along  very  well  for  a  short  time,  but  when  I  got  to 
the  farthest  end  of  the  land  and  was  turning  them 
around  they  threw  their  tails  over  their  backs  and 
jumped  into  a  gallop.    I  did  not  know  what  was  the 
matter  with  them  then,  but  thought  they  had  gone 
mad  all  at  once.    But  afterwards  we  found  out  that 
it  was  the  heel  flies  that  were  stinging  them.    The 
line   slipped   down  over  my  body  and   drew  tight 
around  my  ankles.     The  oxen  nearly  flew,  and  I 
just  touched  the  high  places  along  as  we  passed 
through  the  field  at  such  a  rapid  gait.    They  stopped 
when  they  reached  the  fence,  and  I  disengaged  my- 


JAMES  H.  MATHIS 


SUSAN  JACKSON  MATHIS 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  59 

self,   and   nursed  my  bruises  a  few  minutes,   and 
tried  them  again. 

In  regard  to  our  first  reunion,  in  August,  1901, 
I  will  copy  a  small  part  as  published  by  the  Dallas 
News.  "Three  miles  northeast  of  Carrollton,  August 
30th.  Special  correspondent  of  the  News.  At  the 
home  of  Mr.  John  Jackson,  presents  an  unusual 
scene.  A  stranger  riding  past  this  comfortable  and 
spacious  old  homestead  would  scarcely  know  what 
to  think.  The  grounds  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
the  dwelling  are  dotted  with  tents,  wagons  and  bug- 
gies. Beneath  the  grove  of  old  cedars  are  seen 
smiling,  happy  groups  of  people  of  all  ages,  from 
the  prattling  infant  to  hoary-headed  and  venerable 
grand  parents.  The  old  pioneer  fathers  of  the 
Peter's  Colony  time  are  here — that  is,  a  few  of  them 
— and  dear  old  matrons,  too,  who  shared  the  trials 
and  hardships  incident  to  the  settling  of  a  new  coun- 
try. Upon  the  front  porch  the  piano  has  been  rolled 
out,  and  accompanying  it  are  a  cornet  and  two 
violins,  all  played  by  pretty  girls  in  a  most  pleasing 
manner.  Under  the  largest  of  the  tents  long  tables 
are  spread  with  an  abundance  of  wholesome,  well 
prepared  meats  and  delicacies,  for  the  Jacksons  are 
not  people  who  do  things  by  halves.  They  set  in  to 
have  a  general  family  reunion,  and  they  went  about 
it  right.  Beeves  and  muttons  were  provided,  and 
the  services  of  skilled  barbecuers  were  enlisted,  and 
everything  was  done  to  provide  without  stint  for  » 
crowd  of  at  least  200.  Among  the  old  pioneer 
families  of  the  colonial  period  of  Texas,  there  are 
none  more  highly  respected  and  generally  loved 
than  the  descendants  of  the  sturdy  and  courtly  old 
Devonshire  Englishman,  John  Jackson,  who  with 
his  large  family  immigrated  to  Texas  in  1848.  He 
died  May  31,  1866,  on  the  farm  that  he  settled  here, 
and  lived  upon  for  eighteen  years.     His  venerable 


60  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

wife  died  in  Dallas  at  the  residence  of  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Fanny  Furneaux,  in  May,  1894.  These  old 
people  left  four  sons  and  three  daughters,  each  of 
whom  raised  families.  So  numerous  has  the  Jack- 
son family  and  their  immediate  connections  become 
that  it  occurred  to  Capt.  William  Jackson,  the  second 
son,  to  hold  a  general  reunion  at  the  residence  of 
his  brother,  John.  Capt.  Jackson  has  for  a  good 
many  years  lived  at  Waggoner,  I.  T.  Last  April  he 
came  on  a  visit  to  his  relatives  and  old  home  in 
Dallas  County,  and  while  here  suggested  the  pres- 
ent three  days  reunion.  The  idea  was  evidently  a 
popular  one,  for  the  meeting  was  a  grand  success. 
It  is  strikingly  evident  that  there  is  not  the  least 
danger  of  the  Jackson  family  becoming  extinct  in 
the  Southwest." 

The  Dallas  News  of  that  date  gives  the  names 
of  all.  I  will  state  that  there  are  now  twenty 
families  of  Jacksons  of  the  descendants  of  John  and 
Mary  Jackson,  and  thirteen  families  of  the  girls  and 
their  descendants  that  have  had  their  names 
changed,  making  a  total  of  thirty-three  families  to 
date. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  65 

History  of  the  Members  of  the 
English  Colony 


LIONEL  SIMPSON 

All  of  the  older  members  of  the  English  that 
emigrated  to  Peters  Colony  have  departed  this  life. 
But  many  of  their  descendants  are  prominent  citi- 
zens. Lionel  Simpson  came  from  Scotland.  He  was 
an  energetic,  sturdy  Scotchman,  and  braved  the  dan- 
gers, hardships  and  privations  of  frontier  life  with  a 
determination  never  to  give  up  short  of  success.  He 
made  a  fortune  before  the  war  broke  out,  and  be- 
came a  slave  owner.  •  He  was  in  the  Confederate  ser- 
vice a  short  time,  and  the  company  that  he  was  in 
were  ordered  to  help  guard  the  prisoners  that  were 
taken  by  Bourland's  men,  and  hung  near  Gainesville, 
forty-five  were  hung  near  that  place  at  one  time.  He 
said  it  was  an  awful  scene  to  have  to  witness.  They 
were  hung  until  dead  and  then  taken  down  and 
placed  in  a  cart  and  hauled  to  a  ditch  and  buried. 

Mr.  Simpson  lost  a  great  deal  of  his  property  dur- 
ing the  war,  but  had  a  large  estate  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  A  Mr.  Joseph  Hildreth  came  with  him  from 
England.  He  was  a  city  gentleman,  and  the  hard- 
ships of  pioneer  life  were  too  much  for  him,  and  he 
returned  to  the  Old  Country  again. 

A  Mr.  Sims,  a  shoemaker,  came  from  England  in 
1847,  and  located  land  here,  intending  to  have  his 
family  come  later,  but  was  taken  sick  and  died,  but 
secured  the  land  for  his  family. 

Lionel  Simpson  died  many  years  ago,  leaving 
three  daughters,  and  one  son,  that  has  since  died. 
Two  of  the  daughters,  Miss  Ellen  and  Miss  Anna, 
married  sons  of  Captain  McKamy,  who  were  broth- 


66  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

ers  of  our  ex-Senator  William  C.  McKamy.  Miss 
Emma  married  Col.  Bishop,  a  very  prominent  man 
and  for  some  time  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature. 


REV.  J.  H.  MORGAN 

Rev.  J.  H.  Morgan  emigrated  from  Torquay,  Eng- 
land, early  in  the  fifties.  Later  Mr.  Joseph  Morgan, 
his  brother,  came  to  the  English  colony.  Their  fa- 
ther was  a  Methodist  preacher,  and  a  very  prom- 
inent man  in  Torquay.  I  visited  that  city  in  1904, 
and  was  struck  with  the  beauty  of  the  place,  and  it 
is  said  by  many  people  to  be  the  garden  spot  of  Eng- 
land. Rev.  J.  H.  Morgan  was  also  a  Methodist  min- 
ister. He  was  broad  in  his  views,  rather  too  broad 
for  the  faith,  order  and  discipline  as  taught  in  the 
Methodist  Conference  in  this  country.  He  did  not 
believe  in  sectarianism,  and  felt  like  taking  every 
man  by  the  hand  and  calling  him  brother,  and  he 
thought  the  feeling  and  division  between  the  differ- 
ent churches  was  too  marked,  and  he  believed  that 
they  should  be  united  and  all  should  work  to  that 
end,  as  all  were  striving  to  go  to  the  same  place. 

J.  H.  Morgan  was  a  Bible  student  and  studied 
the  Bible  the  greatest  part  of  his  life,  and  some  time 
before  his  death  he  wrote  a  number  of  manuscripts 
on  the  Bible,  and  was  expecting  to  put  it  in  book 
form  and  have  it  published.  He  was  a  very  pious 
and  devoted  Christian  and  a  deep  thinker.  The 
widow,  Mrs.  J.  H.  Morgan,  has  five  of  his  manu- 
scripts that  she  expects  to  have  published  in  book 
form. 

The  first  written  is  on  the  Fall  of  Man. 

The  second  is  on  the  Atonement. 

The  third  is  on  Salvation. 

The  fourth  is  on  the  Judgment. 

The  fifth  is  on  Damnation. 


REV.  JOHN  H.  MORGAN 


MRS.  J.  H.  MORGAN 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  71 

He  has  certainly  given  it  a  great  deal  of  thought. 

Mrs.  Margaret  Oliver  Morgan,  wife  of  J.  H. 
Morgan,  was  born  in  Port  Glasscow,  Scotland,  and 
came  to  Texas  in  1858.  She  married  J.  H.  Morgan 
in  1860.  She  is  now  seventy-three  years  old,  and  re- 
sides in  the  city  of  Dallas. 

J.  H.  Morgan  departed  this  life  January,  1900, 
about  eight  years  ago.  I  do  not  know  the  exact 
date.  His  widow  and  five  children  survive  him. 
Professor  Joseph  Morgan,  the  principal  of  the  High 
School  at  Dallas,  is  his  oldest  son.  Henly,  his  second 
son,  is  living  on  the  old  homestead.  Edward  Morgan 
is  in  business  in  Dallas.  Miss  Maggie  Morgan,  the 
oldest  daughter,  married  Mr.  Jack  Amery,  and  they 
live  in  Missouri.  Miss  Bessie,  the  second  daughter, 
married  William  Furneaux,  Jr.,  and  they  have  a 
beautiful  place  in  the  country;  he  is  a  brother  of 
John  L.  and  J.  H.  Furneaux  of  Dallas.  They  are  well 
and  favorably  known  as  prominent  stock  men  of 
North  Texas.  They  have  been  engaged  in  that  busi- 
ness many  years,  and  they  ship  large  quantities  of 
fat  cattle  to  Liverpool  and  London,  also  to  Chicago, 
St.  Louis  and  Fort  Worth,  Texas.  They  are  the  sons 
of  William  Furneaux  and  Fanny  Jackson  Furneaux. 
William  Furneaux  emigrated  to  Dallas  County,  from 
Devonshire,  England,  in  fifty-seven,  a  young  man. 
He  was  very  successful  in  business  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death,  and  had  acquired  a  large  fortune,  but  died 
very  suddenly  at  the  age  of  forty-four  years. 

Mr.  Joseph  Morgan,  Sr.,  departed  this  life  the 
19th  of  December,  1907,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  77 
years.  He  was  loved  and  respected  by  all  who  knew 
him.  His  wife  was  a  Miss  Eliza  Furneaux.  She 
died  in  the  year  1901.  Mr.  Joseph  Morgan  is  sur- 
vived by  two  sons  and  a  daughter.  His  oldest  son  is 
a  wealthy  and  successful  ranchman  of  Denton  Coun- 


72  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

ty.  His  second  son,  Rev.  Joseph  J.  Morgan,  is  M.  A. 
B.  D.,  president  of  the  North  Texas  University 
Training  School  of  Terrell.  Mr.  Joseph  Morgan  was 
the  oldest  surviving  member  of  the  English  Colony. 
Mrs.  Maria  Morgan  Smith,  the  only  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Eliza  Morgan,  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  L.  O. 
Smith.  They  are  now  living  at  Whitesboro,  Texas. 
She  has  been  very  prominent  and  a  very  active 
Christian  lady,  and  is  known  in  Methodist  circles 
throughout  the  State,  and  is  a  leader  in  every  char- 
itable and  good  cause.  She  and  Mrs.  Johnson,  a 
prominent  lady  of  this  city,  were  instrumental  in 
building  the  rescue  home  in  East  Dallas.  They  (the 
Methodists)  have  seven  acres  of  ground  and  a  large 
building,  and  many  a  poor  girl  and  fallen  woman 
has  found  protection  and  a  home  there  when  their 
kindred  and  relatives  would  not  recognize  them. 

Mr.  Joseph  Morgan  was  a  very  useful  man  and 
was  an  exception,  and  volumes  could  be  written  on 
his  good  qualities.  But  we  can  sum  it  up  in  a  very 
few  words  by  saying  he  was  a  perfect  Christian  gen- 
tleman, and  his  good  works  live  after  him.  The 
Morgans  have  done  much  for  the  people  in  the  neigh- 
borhood in  which  they  have  lived,  and  their  influence 
has  spread  out  over  a  large  part  of  Texas.  I  never 
heard  him  use  any  bad  language  when  a  young  man, 
never  a  word  that  was  not  fit  for  the  ears  of  ladies, 
and  his  influence  was  always  good. 

I  will  try  to  note  the  character  of  Mr.  Joseph 
Morgan  in  the  following  poem. 

Our  departed  brother  was  a  Christian 

And  a  man  without  a  stain, 
And  was  never  known  to  do  a  wrong 
To  secure  a  worldly  gain. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  75 

By  looking  straight  into  his  face 

A  child  could  understand 
That  he  could  depend  on  such  a  friend, 

Because  he  was  a  kind  man. 

His  language  was  always  pure  and  chaste, 
And  such  as  all  could  understand; 

And  his  neighbors  loved  him  very  much, 
Because  he  was  a  pure  man. 

The  Church  esteemed  him  highly — 

He  was  first  to  give  and  plan, 
And  the  members  held  him  as  a  model, 

Because  he  was  a  liberal  man. 

In  business  circles  he  was  known, 

And  they  seemed  to  understand 
That  his  word  was  good  as  any  bond, 

Because  he  was  an  honest  man. 

And  he  also  was  a  scholar, 

And  did  deep  questions  understand, 
And  the  world  esteemed  him  highly, 
Because  he  was  a  learned  man. 

George  Jackson, 
His  neighbor  and  friend  for  more  than  fifty  years. 


THE  WARNERS 

The  Warners  emigrated  to  Dallas  County  early 
in  1852  direct  from  Ireland.  They  were  influenced 
by  letters  written  by  my  father  to  his  brother  that 
was  then  living  in  Ireland.  There  were  eight  of 
them,  the  old  gentleman  and  his  wife  and  five  sons 
and  a  daughter.  They  have  all  made  good  citizens. 
Mr.  John  Warner  served  as  Judge  of  District  No.  1 


76  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

for  some  time,  and  could  have  served  longer,  but  de- 
clined to  stand  for  the  office,  preferring  to  retire. 
Mr.  Thomas  Warner  married  Miss  Harriet  Perry, 
the  daughter  of  A.  W.  Perry,  and  resides  in  the 
north  part  of  the  county.  He  is  a  wealthy  farmer 
and  stock  man,  is  highly  respected  and  one  of  our 
best  citizens.  Mr.  William  Warner  married  a  Miss 
Vicery,  an  Irish  \&dy.  They  live  on  a  farm  in  north 
part  of  the  county,  and  they  are  independent. 

It  is  now  sixty  years  since  we  landed  in  this  coun- 
try, and  I  have  kept  track  of  most  all  of  the  descend- 
ants of  these  early  settlers,  and  there  are  a  great 
many  of  them,  and  I  do  not  know  of  one  that  has  not 
made  a  good  citizen,  and  many  of  them  have  become 
prominent.  This  is  a  record  that  every  descendant  of 
those  early  pioneers  should  be  proud  of. 

I  will  say  a  few  more  words  in  regard  to  the  Warn- 
ers. They  were  a  family  of  more  than  ordinary  intel- 
ligence. The  old  gentleman  was  a  remarkable  man, 
over  six  feet  tall,  well  educated  and  as  polite  as  a 
French  dancing  master,  and  could  make  as  graceful  a 
bow  as  a  Chesterfield.  He  had  a  rich  Irish  brogue, 
and  was  very  interesting  in  conversation  and  a  dig- 
nified Christian  gentleman,  and  was  held  in  high 
esteem  by  all  his  neighbors.  He  was  born  1795  and 
departed  this  life  in  1875,  the  famliy  came  from 
County  Cork,  Ireland.  Two  of  his  sons,  Robert  and 
Benjamin,  departed  this  life  several  years  ago,  also 
the  daughter,  Susan.  The  entire  family  were  Pro- 
testants. Those  old  pioneers  were  honest  and  re- 
liable, and  true  to  one  another. 

One  circumstance  that  happened  is  probably 
worthy  of  note :  A  young  man  by  the  name  of  George 
Reed  came  to  this  country  with  the  Warners,  but 
did  not  leave  Ireland  with  them,  and  my  father  was 
afraid  he  was  with  them  for  no  good,  as  Mr.  Warner 


THOMAS  WARNER 


ROBERT  WARNER 


JUDGE  JOHN  WARNER 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  83 

had  quite  a  sum  of  money.  My  father  thought  he 
might  be  waiting  for  an  opportunity  to  get  it,  and 
skip  the  country.  Mr.  Warner  had  it  sewed  up  in  a 
belt,  a  thousand  or  twelve  hundred  dollars  in  gold, 
that  he  wore  around  him.  My  father  was  so  uneasy 
about  it  that  he  went  to  Warner's  camp  just  after 
they  reached  the  neighborhood  and  called  him  out 
to  talk  with  him,  and  put  him  on  guard,  and  when 
he  mentioned  his  fears  the  old  gentleman  laughed 
heartily  and  told  my  father  that  he  had  lost  his  belt 
of  money  as  they  came  along.  He  had  taken  the  belt 
off  and  put  it  under  his  head  at  night,  and  in  the 
morning  there  was  some  haste  in  getting  away  and 
their  blankets  were  thrown  in  the  wagon,  and  the 
money  left  in  the  grass.  Reed,  that  morning  very 
early,  left  the  camp  to  try  to  kill  a  deer,  and  when  he 
returned  to  the  camp  they  were  all  gone.  He  picked 
up  the  belt  of  money  and  buckled  it  around  him, 
and  started  after  them,  and  about  ten  or  eleven 
o'clock  overtook  the  wagon.  The  old  gentleman  had 
not  yet  missed  his  money.  George  Reed  delivered 
him  the  belt  of  gold  and  advised  him  to  be  more  care- 
ful with  his  money  in  the  future. 

Mr.  Warner  thanked  my  father  very  much  and 
told  him  that  George  was  perfectly  honest. 

The  early  settlers  of  Dallas  County  were  honest, 
generous  and  brave.  They  were  a  class  of  people 
that  any  country  might  be  proud  of,  and  a  very  few 
countries  can  boast  of  such  a  people  as  the  early 
settlers  of  this  country,  and  many  of  their  descend- 
ants have  become  the  prominent  men  of  the  county 
and  State,  and  we  never  heard  of  any  dishonesty 
from  the  time  of  the  early  settlement  until  near  the 
close  of  the  Civil  War. 

Mr.  John  Warner  married  Miss  Mollie  Johnson, 
a  sister  of  H.  B.  Johnson,  of  the  City  of  Dallas. 
They  were  a  fine  looking  couple,  both  of  them  over 


84  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

six  feet  tall.  They  lived  on  the  farm  for  many  years. 
Five  children  were  born  to  them,  three  boys  and  two 
girls.  Two  of  the  boys  are  now  living  in  Dallas. 
The  oldest  daughter,  Ula,  married  Mr.  William 
Perry,  son  of  Frank  Perry.  They  live  on  the  farm. 
The  other  son,  Alexander  Warner,  is  married  and 
lives  on  the  farm,  and  the  youngest  daughter,  Emma, 
is  living  with  her  father.  Mrs.  Warner  died  many 
years  ago,  when  the  children  were  quite  young.  Mr. 
Warner  never  married  again.  He  brought  up  and 
educated  the  children,  and  one  of  them,  the  young- 
est, is  still  living  with  him.  He  has  alwaws  been  a 
Republican  politically,  and  most  all  of  his  neighbors 
are  Democrats,  but  they  think  so  well  of  him  they 
would  vote  for  him  for  any  office  that  he  wanted ; 
white,  black,  Democrat  and  Republican  would  all 
vote  for  Warner.     He  is  now  68  years  old. 

William  B.  Rowe  and  family  emigrated  from 
Devonshire,  England,  to  Peters  Colony  in  1848.  His 
family  consisted  of  himself  and  wife  and  a  son  and 
daughter.  The  daughter  married  James  Kennedy. 
One  son  was  born  to  them,  and  Mrs.  Kennedy  died 
not  long  after.  The  son,  William  Kennedy,  lives  in  the 
north  part  of  the  county,  and  is  a  wealthy  farmer. 
He  married  Miss  Ann  Perry.  They  have  a  large  fam- 
ily of  children,  most  of  them  grown.  William  Rowe, 
Jr.,  married  Miss  Sarah  Perry,  daughter  of  Western 
Perry.  They  had  one  son  born  to  them,  and  Mrs. 
Rowe,  his  wife,  died  not  long  after.  The  son  is 
living  in  the  north  part  of  the  county  and  is  a  well- 
to-do  farmer.  His  father  married  the  second  time 
and  raised  a  large  family  of  children.  He  died 
several  years  ago.  I  do  not  know  the  children  by  his 
last  wife. 

In  regard  to  those  camp-meetings,  I  will  say  for 
my  part,  I  have  a  profound  regard  for  those  early 
Christians.    I  revere  the  memory  of  those  men  who 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  85 

fought  the  first  battles,  and  I  love  all  that  tends  to 
revive  their  memory.  I  delight  to  think  of  the  deeds 
of  love,  and  wish  there  was  more  of  the  zeal  that 
actuated  the  advanced  guard  being  experienced  by 
the  ministers  of  our  own  time.  Who  that  ever  felt 
the  love  of  Christ  in  his  heart  does  not  experience  a 
heavenly  emotion  when  he  passes  over  a  camp 
ground?  A  train  of  thoughts  will  come  rushing 
through  his  mind  as  he  thinks  of  the  stirring  ser- 
mons and  the  shouts  of  new  born  souls,  and  the  good 
old  songs  that  were  sun  with  such  spiritual  fervor 
that  angels  seemed  to  catch  the  sound  and  waft  it 
over  the  Battlements  of  Heaven.  Such  as,  "How 
Firm  a  Foundation,"  "Ye  Saints  of  the  Lord,"  and 
"Come  Thou  Fount  of  Every  Blessing,"  "Tune 
My  Heart  to  Sing  Thy  Grace."  The  great 
generosity  shown  by  the  campers  at  those  meet- 
ings will  ever  be  remembered  by  those  that 
took  part  in  them,  and  their  names  will  be 
loved  and  revered  by  all  who  knew  them.  I  will 
name  a  few  of  them  that  so  often  come  to  my  mind : 
The  Webbs,  the  Knights,  the  Cochrans,  the  McKamys, 
the  Armstrongs,  and  many  others,  whose  unbounded 
generosity  will  be  loved  and  admired  by  all  who 
knew  them.  Long  tables  were  spread  and  loaded 
with  a  bountiful  supply  of  everything  that  was  good 
to  eat,  and  all  of  those  from  a  distance  received  a 
hearty  welcome,  and  wagon  loads  of  corn  were 
brought  on  the  ground  and  those  that  came  from  a 
distance  were  invited  to  help  themselves.  Both  man 
and  beast  were  provided  for. 


86        Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 


The  Indians 


In  the  winter  of  1860-1861  the  Indians  made 
several  raids  into  Parker,  Clay,  Cook  and  Denton 
Counties,  and  the  settlers  became  alarmed  and  ex- 
cited. There  was  a  company  of  one  hundred  men 
raised  in  the  neighborhood  of  Trinity  Mills,  in  the 
north  part  of  Dallas  County.  We  elected  W.  Hamp 
Witt,  captain.  We  took  no  time  to  drill,  but  were 
off  on  the  jump  like  minute  men.  I  had  a  double - 
barrel  shotgun,  with  one  tube  spiked,  and  I  had  no 
time  or  place  to  get  a  new  tube  put  in.  So  I  put  a 
heavy  load  in  the  other  barrel  and  promised  them  if 
I  got  in  shooting  distance  I  would  give  them  the  best 
I  had  in  my  shop.  I  started  off  on  the  jump  with 
the  company.  We  went  through  Denton,  Cook  and 
into  Clay  County,  and  ranged  around  a  few  days.  We 
had  such  a  formidable  company  I  think  we  must 
have  frightened  all  the  Indians  out  of  the  country. 
We  never  did  get  in  sight  of  an  Indian. 

The  country  at  this  time  was  very  much  excited 
and  there  were  wild  rumors  afloat.  In  the  summer 
of  1860  Dallas  was  burned  and  the  people  were  ex- 
pecting a  negro  insurrection.  The  burning  of  Dallas 
was  laid  to  the  negroes,  and  three  negroes  were  hung. 
There  were  two  Methodist  preachers  from  Iowa  that 
were  accused  of  instigating  the  insurrection  and  put- 
ting the  negroes  up  to  burning  the  town.  After  hang- 
ing the  three  negroes,  a  great  many  of  the  negroes  in 
the  county  were  whipped. 

The  two  preachers  were  handled  pretty  rough. 
They  were  whipped  and  ordered  to  leave  the  country, 
and  men  fresh  from  the  North  were  looked  on  with 
suspicion,  and  some  good  men  were  threatened.  The 
summer  of  1860  was  very  hot,  110  degrees  in  the 
shade,  and  in  many  places  matches  were  known  to 
take  fire  while  on  the  mantel,  or  shelf.    Some  people 


WM.  FURNEAUX,  SR. 


MRS.  FANNY  JACKSON  FURNEAUX 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  91 

thought  that  was  the  cause  of  many  of  the  fires. 
There  was  the  difference  of  opinion.  Some  of  the  prom- 
inent citizens  said  they  had  proof  that  the  negroes 
did  it,  and  the  Methodist  preachers  were  at  the  head 
of  it.  The  negroes  suffered,  and  many  of  them  were 
whipped.  Some  of  the  slave-holders  did  not  like  to 
have  their  negroes  treated  so  cruelly.  I  still  thank 
the  Lord  that  I  took  no  part  in  it.  These  were  excit- 
ing times,  and  great  interest  was  at  stake,  and  the 
great  institution  of  negro  slavery  that  we  had  been 
taught  and  believed  was  all  right  seemed  to  be  tot- 
tering on  its  own  foundation,  and  there  was  nothing 
left  to  do  but  secede  and  fight  for  slavery  or  submit 
to  gradual  emancipation  or  abolition.  The  negroes 
were  treated  very  well  by  their  master  up  to  this 
time ;  once  in  a  while  one  was  sold.  Sometimes  they 
were  given  the  privilege  of  selecting  their  own  mas- 
ters. 


WM.  FURNEAUX,  SR. 

William  Furneaux,  of  Devonshire,  England,  was 
the  third  son  of  John  and  Maria  Furneaux,  of  Dev- 
onshire, England,  and  in  1857,  when  seventeen  years 
old,  emigrated  to  Dallas  County,  Texas. 

Furneaux  is  a  French  name.  William  Furneaux 
is  a  descendant  of  a  very  old  family.  The  Furneaux 
trace  their  ancestry  back  near  the  time  of  William 
the  Conqueror,  that  invaded  and  conquered  England 
in  1066. 

On  September  19,  1861,  he  married  Miss  Fanny 
Jackson.  They  had  four  children  born  to  them — 
Wm.  Furneaux,  Joseph  H.  Furneaux,  J.  L.  Fur- 
neaux, and  Mary  N.  Furneaux.  He  in- 
herited and  accumulated  a  magnificent  estate, 
that  he  was  possessed  of  at  the  time  of 
his  death.  He  departed  this  life  very  suddenly  and 
unexpectedly,  May  6,  1884.    His  widow,  Mrs.  Fanny 


92  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

Furneaux,  now  lives  at  299  Worth  street,  Dallas, 
Texas,  and  Mrs.  Mary  McFarland,  her  daughter  and 
husband,  the  druggist,  are  living  with  her. 

Mr.  Vivian,  an  Englishman,  came  to  the  English 
colony  during  the  war.  He  was  a  Confederate  sol- 
dier, and  as  brave  a  man  as  ever  saw  Texas.  He 
had  said  that  he  would  never  surrender  his  gun  to 
a  Federal  soldier.  His  bravery  was  tested  on  several 
occasions  during  the  war,  and  after  the  close  of  the 
war.  The  Federals  stationed  at  Dallas  had  deter- 
mined to  kill  him,  and  a  squad  of  soldiers  was  sent  to 
the  home  where  he  lived  on  White  Rock,  near  Frank- 
fort, and  they  slipped  up  on  him  and  shot  him  in 
the  house,  and  after  shooting  him,  they  knocked  him 
in  the  head  with  their  muskets,  and  one  of  the  brav- 
est men  that  ever  lived  was  murdered  in  that  way. 

Mr.  Wm.  Kingwell  came  to  the  English  Colony 
in  1848,  and  died,  and  a  Mr.  Lambshead  came,  he 
went  west  trading  with  the  Indians  and  we  lost 
sight  of  him. 


A.  W.  PERRY  &  WIFE,  SARAH 

They  were  our  near  neighbors,  and  they  certainly 
were  the  right  kind  of  neighbors.  There  are  only 
just  a  few  such  people  as  Uncle  Elic  and  Aunt  Sally, 
as  we  used  to  call  them,  and  if  they  had  any  enemies 
I  never  knew  it,  and  I  lived  in  half  a  mile  of  them, 
or  near  them,  for  thirty  or  more  years.  A.  W.  Perry 
was  not  an  educated  man — that  is,  he  did  not  have  a 
literary  education — but  was  a  very  practical  man, 
and  the  boys  would  frequently  say  that  he  had  more 
good  horse  sense  than  any  man  in  the  neighborhood, 
and  a  stranger  talking  with  him  would  just  as  likely 
take  him  for  a  judge  as  a  common  farmer. 

A.  W.   Perry  was  the  greatest  provider  for  a 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  93 

family  that  I  ever  knew.  The  abundance  that  he 
provided  was  wonderful,  and  no  one  ever  knew  of 
A.  W.  Perry  and  wife  doing  any  light  house-keeping. 
His  neighbors  and  friends  were  always  welcome  to 
share  with  them  the  good  things  they  possessed.  It 
was  always  said  he  had  the  best  orchard  in  that  part 
of  the  county,  and  it  was  very  seldom  that  he  had 
less  than  one  hundred  bee  stands,  and  it  could  be 
truthfully  added  that  his  place  was  a  place  that 
flowed  with  milk  and  honey. 

Mr.  Perry  and  wife  moved  from  Illinois  in  1844 
with  three  children,  and  settled  near  the  place  that 
he  died  on.  He  died  recently  at  the  ripe  old  age 
of  86  or  87  years,  loved  and  honored  by  all  who  knew 
him.  He  had  accumulated  a  very  large  estate,  and 
he  raised  a  large  family  of  fourteen  children.  There 
are  six  or  seven  of  them  now  living,  and  the  others 
dead.  He  made  one  division  of  his  large  estate  many 
years  before  his  death,  giving  each  one  a  farm,  and 
later,  and  not  many  years  before  his  death,  he  made 
the  second  division. 

Mr.  Perry  was  a  partner  with  W.  H.  Witt,  and 
they  built  what  was  known  as  the  Trinity  Mills. 
Later  he  sold  to  W.  H.  Witt,  and  it  was  known  after 
as  Witt's  Mill.  He  was  the  original  owner  of  the 
townsite  of  Carrollton,  and  laid  off  the  town  and 
sold  lots,  and  gave  land  for  the  M.,  K.  &  T.  depot. 

Religiously,  A.  W.  Perry  and  wife  were  Baptists, 
and  most  of  their  children  were  members  of  the 
same  church.  He  joined  the  old  Union  Baptist 
Church,  the  first  Baptist  Church  organized  in  the 
country.  Said  church  was  organized  in  1846,  with 
five  charter  members.  He  and  his  wife  were  always 
true  to  the  Baptist  faith.  They  were  devoted  Chris- 
tians from  the  time  of  their  conversion  to  the  time 
of  their  death. 

At  the  time  Mr.  Perry  moved  to  Dallas  County, 


94  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

in  1844,  the  Indians  were  plenty  then,  and  made 
raids  and  stole  horses  after  that  time,  but  he  did  not 
suffer  much  from  the  Indians.  Mr.  Perry  was  a 
very  cautious  and  a  very  shrewd  man.  If  all  of  the 
people  were  such  people  as  A.  W.  Perry  and  wife,  the 
Millennium  would  be  near  at  hand.  We  would  need 
no  sheriff,  no  police,  no  jail,  no  courthouse,  no  peace 
officers  of  any  kind,  but  every  man  and  every  woman 
you  met  would  be  your  friend,  and  we  would  almost 
have  a  heaven  upon  earth.  Mr.  Perry  moved  to  Texas 
at  a  time  when  it  tried  men's  souls,  but  he  overcame 
every  obstacle  and  surmounted  every  hill  of  diffi- 
culty, and  was  very  successful  in  all  his  undertak- 
ings, and  he  departed  this  life  without  a  stain  upon 
his  character. 


JOHN  HENRY  BROWN 

Late  of  Dallas,  was  born  in  Pike  County,  Mis- 
souri, Oct.  29,  1820,  five  months  before  that  territory 
became  a  State.  His  family  is  essentially  one  of  pa- 
triots and  historical  worth.  The  originator  of  the  fam- 
ily came  across  the  ocean  in  the  time  of  Lord  Balti- 
more. Captain  Henry  S.  Brown,  the  father  of  John 
Henry  Brown,  came  to  Texas  in  1824,  as  an  Indian 
and  Mexican  trader,  and  was  in  many  Indian  fights. 
He  often  commanded  companies  against  the  Indians, 
defeating  them  near  where  Waco  now  stands,  and 
in  1825  north  of  San  Antonio,  and  in  1827  on  the 
Nueces,  and  led  his  company  to  victory  in  many  oth- 
er fights  in  Central  Texas,  where  there  was  such  a 
bloody  warfare  for  many  years  with  the  Indians. 
He  died  suddenly  in  Brazoria,  July  26,  1834.  Brown 
County,  created  in  1856,  was  named  in  his  honor  at 
the  request  of  many  old  citizens.  His  wife  survived 
him  until  April  30th,  1861.  She  died  at  her  home 
in  Lavaca  County,  Texas. 


JOHN  HENRY  BROWN 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  97 

To  write  the  history  of  John  Henry  Brown  would 
require  a  large  volume.  He  is  known  in  Texas,  and 
favorably  known.  It  is  not  the  leading  and  great 
men  of  Texas  only  that  know  John  Henry  Brown, 
but  his  name  is  a  household  word  in  the  homes  of  all 
the  common  people  of  Texas,  and  all  the  long  time 
during  his  active  and  useful  life  he  has  worked  in 
the  interest  of  the  people,  and  for  the  welfare  of  our 
beloved  State.  His  services  and  advice  have  been 
eagerly  sought  after  wherever  he  has  lived  in  our 
great  State,  and  he  has  been  prominent  in  the  an- 
nals of  Texas  as  a  pioneer,  legislator,  soldier  and  his- 
torian. He  departed  this  life  without  a  stain  upon 
his  character,  honored  by  the  people  and  loved  by 
his  neighbors. 


THE  COCHRAN  FAMILY 

John  M.  Cochran  has  been  a  resident  of  Texas 
since  his  early  childhood,  and  has  been  identified 
with  the  interests  of  Dallas  County  as  closely  as  any 
man  that  has  lived  in  the  county.  He  was  born  in 
Tennessee,  June  28th,  1838,  and  his  parents  moved 
to  Dallas  County,  Texas,  when  John  was  three  years 
old.  He  received  a  good  education.  He  graduated 
with  honor  at  the  McKenzie  Institute  on  Red  River 
and  was  qualified  to  fill  almost  any  position.  His 
father  was  the  first  county  clerk  of  Dallas  County, 
in  1846,  and  later,  in  1847,  he  was  sent  to  the  first 
Legislature. 

My  father  and  family  became  acquainted  with 
the  Cochran  family  in  1848.  Mr.  William  M.  Coch- 
ran was  instrumental  in  securing  our  640  acres  of 
land.  We  were  detained  at  Mount  Pleasant,  in  Titus 
County,  by  sickness,  and  did  not  arrive  in  Peters' 
Colony  until  after  the  4th  of  July,  1848,  that  being 
the  last  day  of  grace.     Mr.  Cochran  brought  it  up 


98  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

in  the  Legislature,  and  the  member  from  Titus  Coun- 
ty, being  acquainted  with  the  circumstances,  corro- 
borated the  facts  stated  by  Cochran,  and  we  secured 
our  land  by  a  special  Act  of  the  Legislature. 

John  H.  Cochran,  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  Legislature  six  terms,  and 
was  Speaker  of  the  House  in  the  Sixteenth  and  the 
Twenty-third  Sessions.  He  served  with  ability  and 
had  the  confidence  of  the  people  at  home.  He  was 
postmaster  of  Dallas  County  during  Cleveland's  first 
administration,  and  was  also  County  Assessor  in  1862. 
He  served  the  County  long  and  well.  He  was  never 
accused  of  trickery,  and  no  word  of  suspicion  was 
ever  spoken  against  him.  I  was  his  neighbor  for 
many  years,  and  his  partner  in  business  for  one 
year,  and  can  testify  to  his  worth  and  honesty.  He 
married  Miss  Martha  Johnson,  of  Young  County,  in 
1860.  They  had  six  children  born  to  them.  William 
and  James,  their  two  oldest  sons,  died  just  as  they 
attained  manhood.  They  were  two  promising  young 
men.  They  were  my  next-door  neighbors  during 
their  sickness.  Mr.  Cochran  lived  in  Young  County 
a  short  time,  and  he  has  often  told  me  about  the 
Indian  fights  and  the  close  places  he  has  been  in. 
The  Cochrans  have  been  closely  identified  with  the 
county.  A.  M.  Cochran  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Legislature  of  Dallas  County  and  was  also  postmas- 
ter of  Dallas.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and 
has  held  many  places  of  honor  and  trust  in  the  coun- 
ty. In  1886  he  was  the  Republican  nominee  for 
Governor  of  Texas,  and  made  a  canvass  of  the  State. 

William  P.  Cochran,"  deceased,  was  a  prominent 
citizen,  and  took  an  active  part  in  politics.  He  own- 
ed the  old  homestead,  six  miles  north  of  Dallas,  and 
was  reared  to  farm  life.  He  enlisted  in  Sixth  Texas 
Cavalry  in  1861,  and  went  all  through  the  war,  and 
was  in  many    battles — Pea  Ridge,    Corinth,    Inka, 


JOHN  H.  COCHRAN 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  101 

Holly  Springs  and  forty-six  days  fight  before  At- 
lanta.    He  departed  this  life  a  few  years  ago. 

James  M.  Cochran,  another  brother,  was  reared 
to  farm  life  and  is  a  successful  farmer  and  stock 
raiser.  Of  late  years  he  has  been  living  in  Dallas. 
He  was  County  Commissioner  in  1905  and  1906.  He 
is  now  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  under  the 
firm  name  of  Jacoby  &  Cochran. 


OBADIAH  KNIGHT 

Was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  when  a  young  man 
removed  to  Tennessee,  where  he  engaged  in  agricul- 
ture, which  he  pursued  until  1846.  In  that  year  he 
came  to  Dallas  County,  Texas,  and  settled  in  Pre- 
cinct No.  1,  in  four  miles  of  the  little  village  of  Dal- 
las, He  purchased  a  thousand  acres  of  land,  which 
he  placed  under  cultivation,  and  he  was  the  owner 
of  slaves,  although  he  was  opposed  to  the  principle 
of  bartering  in  flesh  and  blood. 

Mr.  Knight  was  twice  married.  There  were  five 
children  of  the  first  marriage ;  all  of  them  are  dead 
except  Gabriel  A.  The  deceased  are,  William  A., 
Elizabeth  Mallard,  Dr.  John  W.  and  Mrs.  Judge  Bur- 
ford.  The  second  marriage  was  to  Miss  Hughes, 
and  the  children  of  this  union  are,  Laura,  who  died 
in  1870;  Mattie  A.,  deceased;  Sarah  Catharine,  Mar- 
garet B.,  William  H.,  Epps  G.,  who  is  favorably 
known  throughout  the  entire  county.  He  was 
County  Collector  for  three  terms,  and  a  very  efficient 
Chief  of  Police  for  several  years.  The  next  son  is 
R.  E.  L.,  a  lawyer  by  profession,  and  has  become 
very  prominent,  and  is  considered  one  of  the  ablest 
lawyers  at  the  bar.  Archelaus  J.,  the  youngest  liv- 
ing son,  is  a  well-known  real  estate  man  of  Dallas, 
and  is  now  doing  a  good  business  under  the  firm 
name  of  Aldredge  &  Knight,  at  239  Main  street, 


102  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

Dallas,  Texas.  Monroe,  Henry,  Josephine  and  Lula 
died  in  childhood. 

From  this  father,  Obadiah,  sprang  a  large  and 
influential  family,  that  have  done  much  for  Dallas 
County. 

Mr.  Knight  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church  and  one  that  was  respected  and  looked  up 
to.  He  was  identified  with  the  Democratic  party, 
and  was  of  the  most  honored  and  respected  of  the 
early  pioneers,  and  left  behind  him  a  name  that  will 
be  revered  while  memory  lasts,  and  the  influence  of 
this  good  man  has  been  the  cause  of  many  other  liv- 
ing better  and  more  useful  lives. 

G.  A.  Knight,  the  oldest  son,  enlisted  in  the  First 
Texas  Artillery  and  served  for  four  years,  and  par- 
ticipated in  some  of  the  most  noted  battles  in  the 
conflict,  and  after  the  surrender  he  returned  to  Dal- 
las County.  September  8th,  1869,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Hannah  E.  Jenkins,  a  native  of 
Dallas  County,  and  a  daughter  of  William  Jenkins, 
who  was  the  first  Sheriff  of  Dallas  County.  Nine 
children  were  born  to  them,  two  of  whom  died  in 
infancy.  Those  living  are,  Alma  L.,  William  Bur- 
ford,  Andrew  G.,  Mattie,  John  J.,  Adaline  and  Lu- 
cile.  Mr.  Knight  engaged  in  farming,  and  remained 
on  the  farm  until  1889,  and  then  located  in  the  city. 
He  has  held  several  offices  in  the  city.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  City  Council  for  several  years.  He 
has  acquired  a  large  estate  and  owns  and  lives  in  an 
elegant  residence  on  North  Harwood  street,  and 
has  been  a  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist 
church  for  many  years. 


DAVID  MYERS 

Was  a  Baptist  preacher  of  the  old  school,  and 
gave  his  time  and  services  to  the  good  cause,  and 
received  but  small  pay  in  this  life.     He  was  a  man 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  103 

of  pleasing  address,  and  a  good  and  earnest  preach- 
er. He  organized  the  first  Baptist  Church  in  Dal- 
las County,  in  1846,  known  as  the  Union  Baptist 
Church,  located  near  the  town  of  Carrollton.  He 
also  organized  a  Church  on  Rowlett's  Creek,  and 
the  Bethel,  Liberty  and  probably  other  churches. 

He  was  active  in  the  work,  and  trusted  the  Lord 
for  results.  The  old  pioneers  had  but  little  money. 
As  a  Texas  pioneer  preacher  he  suffered  many  hard- 
ships and  privations.  During  his  entire  ministry  I 
don't  think  he  received  as  much  as  $500.00;  but  he 
seemed  to  delight  in  his  work,  and  the  Lord  only 
knows  the  great  influence  for  good  he  did  among 
the  old  pioneers. 

It  was  at  the  cabin  of  David  Myers  that  my 
father  and  family  stopped  at  the  end  of  our  long 
journey  from  Devonshire,  England,  to  Peters  Col- 
ony, and  we  received  kind  treatment  from  the  old 
pioneer  preacher  and  his  family.  We  remained  there 
some  time,  until  we  could  secure  a  cabin  to  go  into, 
and  the  Myers  family  have  always  been  our  friends. 

The  first  sermon  preached  by  David  Myers  in 
Dallas  County  was  a  funeral  discourse,  delivered  in 
June,  1846,  and  his  last  sermon  was  preached  at 
the  Bethel  Church,  a  church  that  he  had  organized. 

He  departed  this  life  March  9th,  1853,  honored 
and  loved  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  in  active 
service,  preaching  to  the  pioneers  of  Dallas,  Denton 
and  Collin  Counties  for  seven  years,  and  died  at  the 
age  of  56  years. 


JAMES  A.  SMITH 

The  great  pioneer  preacher  was  our  neighbor, 
and  a  friend  of  every  person,  and  especially  to  the 
members  of  the  English  Colony,  and  we  held  him  in 
high  esteem.     He  lived  9  miles  from  our  home. 


104  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

The  following  chronological  sketch  was  written 
by  Mr.  Smith  himself: 

James  Anderson  Smith,  son  of  Joshua  Smith,  son 
of  John  Smith. 

My  mother,  Mary  Smith,  was  the  daughter  of 
William  and  Nancy  Anderson.  They  were  born  in 
Ireland — emigrated  to  South  Carolina  after  their 
marriage,  where  my  mother,  their  first  child,  was 
born  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1774.  My  grandfather 
Anderson  was  killed  by  the  British  in  a  skirmish 
shortly  after  Sumpter's  defeat  near  Camden,  S.  C. 
My  grandfather  Smith  was  a  native  of  Maryland, 
and  descended  from  a  Welch  family;  he  emigrated 
to  Virginia,  Prince  William  County,  about  the  year 
1760,  where  my  father  was  born  in  the  year  1765. 
From  thence  he  moved  to  South  Carolina  in  the  year 
1769.  My  parents  were  married  in  the  year  1794; 
lived  in  South  Carolina  until  1804;  moved  to  Ten- 
nessee, settled  in  Robertson  County,  near  Spring- 
field ;  in  1818  emigrated  to  North  Alabama,  Lauder- 
dale County,  and  in  1843  emigrated  to  Mississippi, 
Tishomingo  County,  where  my  father  died  in  Sep- 
tember, 1845 ;  also  my  mother  died  a  year  or  two  af- 
ter, in  Franklin  County,  Alabama.  I  was  born  in 
Chester  District,  S.  C,  Sept.  25,  1801;  married  to 
Anne  Kilten,  Feb.  26,  1828;  emigrated  from  Missis- 
sippi to  Texas,  Dallas  County,  in  the  winter  of 
1846-7. 

The  late  Rev.  Wesley  Smith,  in  his  bort«<,  "My 
Family  History,"  I  find  the  following :  "My  brother, 
James  A  Smith,  was  converted  at  a  praye--meeting 
in  Franklin  County,  Ala.,  in  1831 ;  was  ^pointed 
class  leader  of  his  society  soon  after  his  conversion, 
which  position  he  held  until  1834,  when  he  was  reg- 
ularly licensed  to  preach.  I  also  have  in  my  posses- 
sion his  ministerial  credentials  as  elder  in  the  M.  E. 
Church,  South,  signed  by  Bishop  Kavanaugh. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  105 

"Soon  after  his  arrival  in  Dallas  County  he  lo- 
cated eight  miles  north  of  Dallas,  between  the  Pres- 
ton and  McKinney  roads,  built  his  log  cabin  home 
and  opened  up  his  farm.     He  and  his  family  were 
not  only  satisfied  with  the  country,  but  delighted 
with  it.    At  the  first  he  felt  himself  identified  with 
it  and  its  future  interests ;  he  directed  his  efforts  to 
its  development  materially,  socially    and    morally. 
Never  once  did  he  sigh  for  the  flesh  pots  of  Egypt, 
though  enduring  the  privations  and  hardships  of 
the  pioneer.     He  was  optimistic  in  his  views  and 
inspired  all  others  with  his  cheerful  confidence  as  he 
looked  to  the  future  for  the  fulfillment  of  his  high 
ideals.    But  as  uninterrupted  success  and  happiness 
is  not  the  portion  to  mortals  given,  so  it  was  with 
Mr.  Smith,  when  the  greatest  trial  of  his  life  came 
upon  him,  when  the  death  angel  came  and  took  from 
him  his  loving,  devoted  wife.     On  April  the  3rd, 
1861,  when  surrounded  by  husband  and  children, 
to  whom  her  life  had  been  devoted,  she  left  us  all, 
in  answer  to  the  summons  of  her  Lord  to  come  up 
higher,  and  though  he  bowed  in  meek  submission 
to  the  will  of  his  Heavenly  Father,  yet  the  blow  was 
so  heavy,  the  breaking  of  the  cords  that  bind  around 
the  heart  was  so  severe,  he  never  recovered  fully  his 
joyous  spirit,  but  when  the  Civil  War,  now  immi- 
nent, sent  forth  its  mandate  "To  arms,"  and  the 
dark  gloom  of  war  hovered  over  his  loved  country, 
his  patriotism  asserted  itself  with  incomparable  de- 
votion and  energetic  effort  to  cast  all,  if  necessary, 
upon  its  altar.     He  gave  liberally  of  his  substance 
to  aid  in  the  prosecution  of  the  war,  and  though  his 
health  was  rapidly  failing,  he  withheld  not  his  sons, 
but  bid  them  all  go  to  the  defense  of  his  loved  South- 
land.   Though  confined  to  his  room,  this  long  weary 
time,  he  ever  had  a  deep  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his 
country,  watched  with  unabated  interest  the  prog- 


106  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

ress  of  the  war,  never  complained  or  murmured  on 
account  of  physical  suffering. 

After  two  years  from  the  death  of  his  wife  this 
life's  conflict  was  over.  Like  St.  Paul,  he  had 
fought  the  good  fight,  "he  had  kept  the  faith ;  hence- 
forth there  was  laid  up  for  him  a  crown  of  eternal 
life  which  the  righteous  Judge  shall  give  to  the  final- 
ly faithful."  Better  than  to  speak  myself,  I  will  ap- 
pend a  tribute  of  love  and  respect  from  three  of  his 
particular  friends. 

The  "In  Memoriam,"  by  the  Rev.  W.  K.  Masten, 
a  minister  of  the  North  Texas  Conference,  written 
soon  after  his  death.  A  tribute  by  the  late  Joseph 
Morgan,  which  has  ever  been  highly  prized  by  the 
family  as  coming  from  one  whom  no  one  knew 
better  of  Mr.  Smith's  private  inner  life. 

A  contribution  to  the  "Texas  Christian  Advo- 
cate" of  November,  1905,  by  Rev.  W.  H.  Hughes,  a 
friend  and  co-worker,  who,  after  a  lapse  of  more 
than  forty  years,  tells  of  his  abundant  labors,  his 
usefulness,  and  unvarying  faithfulness  as  a  minister 
of  the  gospel,  in  the  establishment  of  the  church,  in 
the  early  settlement  of  Dallas  County. 

In  Memoriam. 

Rev.  James  Smith  departed  this  life  at  his  resi- 
dence in  Dallas  County,  April  15,  1863.  He  came 
to  this  country  a  minister  in  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  South,  and  labored  with  great  accepta- 
bility, both  to  the  church  and  to  the  people,  as  a 
local  preacher.  As  a  citizen,  Mr.  Smith  was 
true  to  his  country  and  took  great  interest  in  its  ad- 
vancement, was  never  found  lagging  in  any  of  the 
enterprises  that  seemed  to  promise  its  development 
and  -general  welfare.  As  a  neighbor,  he  was  kind 
and  obliging.  As  a  friend  and  companion  in  the 
closer  walks  of  life  he  was  true,  confidential  and 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  107 

benevolent.  As  a  Christian  he  was  constant  and 
immovable.  As  a  preacher  he  was  earnest,  a  clear 
reasoner,  and  at  times  was  almost  overpowering  in 
pathos  and  eloquence.  Was  more  successful  in  his 
pulpit  exercises  than  most  men,  as  hundreds  in  this 
and  the  adjoining  counties  can  testify.  He  has  more 
fruits  as  a  preacher,  perhaps,  than  any  minister  in 
this  section  of  the  county.  Hundreds  through  his 
instrumentality  have  been  brought  to  Christ  and 
added  to  the  Church  of  God. 

He  died  as  he  had  lived,  in  favor  both  with  God 
and  man.  He  retained  the  full  vigor  and  strength  of 
his  intellect  and  reason  until  the  very  last  moment 
of  his  life. 

The  writer  of  this  sketch  was  with  him  from 
early  in  the  day  until  he  died  at  8  p.  m.,  conversed 
with  him  much,  in  regard  to  his  acceptance  with 
his  Heavenly  Father,  and  it  is  for  the  consolation 
of  his  children  and  friends  that  I  will  say  that  from 
the  frequent  interviews  I  had  with  him  during  his 
long  and  painful  sickness  I  never  found  him  dis- 
posed to  murmur  or  complain.  He  often  told  me 
he  did  not  wish  to  choose  whether  he  should  live 
or  die;  he  loved  his  family  and  friends  very  much, 
but  he  had  a  strong  desire  to  be  with  Christ,  and  as 
he  was  passing  into  the  very  jaws  of  death,  and 
while  his  children  were  weeping  around  him,  he 
called  them  to  him,  laid  his  hand  upon  each  of  their 
heads  and  blessed  them  in  the  name  of  the  God  of 
Jacob.  Thus  passed  away  from  our  midst  one  among 
the  very  best  men  in  all  the  land. 

W.  K.  Masten. 

Tribute  of  Mr.  Joseph  Morgan  to 
Rev.  James  A.  Smith. 

"  'This  is  my  beloved  Son.     Hear  Him.' 

"Such   a   truth  !      How   grand  !      How   glorious ! 


108  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

Hear  ye  Him,  give  heed  to  His  teachings.  Attend 
His  calls.  Obey  His  commandments.  Die  with  Him 
to  sin,  as  He  died  for  sin.  Arise  with  Him  to  new- 
ness of  life.  Live  with  Him  a  life  of  holiness,  benev- 
olence and  humble  devotion.  So  may  I  believe,  at- 
tend, obey,  and  live  with  Him  forever.  So  might 
it  be.    J.  A.  S." 

The  above  was  written  in  pencil  on  the  cover  of 
a  book  entitled  The  Christ  of  History.  These  few 
lines  written  by  the  Rev.  J.  A.  Smith  a  short  time 
previous  to  the  close  of  his  earthly  pilgrimage  dis- 
cover to  us  the  source  of  that  pure  strain  of  benevo- 
lence and  humble  devotion  which  flowed  so  unvary- 
ingly from  his  full  heart,  and  from  which  many 
of  us  have  so  often  drank  and  been  refreshed.  He 
did  believe,  he  did  attend,  he  did  obey,  and  now  he 
is  gone  from  us  to  live  with  Christ  forever.  Let 
those,  his  own  words,  be  his  epitaph  written  not 
on  a  gorgeous  monument,  for  he  despised  outward 
show,  and  cared  but  little  for  the  praise  of  men — 
but  written  with  the  pen  of  love  in  the  memories  of 
all  who  knew  him,  friends  or  foes.  Repeat  them  to 
your  children's  children.  Teach  them  by  word  and 
example  to  follow  him  as  he  followed  Christ.  So 
may  we  all  attend,  believe  and  obey,  and  with  him 
live  with  Christ  forever.     Amen. 

Joseph  Morgan. 

Rev.  James  A.  Smith,  a  Pioneer  Preacher. 
(By  W.  H.  Hughes.) 

Ingratitude  towards  those  who  in  anywise  have 
contributed  to  our  comfort  and  prosperity  is  one 
of  the  most  detestable  elements  in  human  nature. 
But  ingratitude  toward  those  who  have  gone  before 
us  and  have  borne  the  burdens  and  inconveniences 
of  frontier  life  is  too  often  found  in  Church  and 
State.     Jesus   said   to   His   disciples,   "One   soweth 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  109 

and  another  reapeth.  I  sent  you  to  reap  that  where- 
on ye  bestowed  no  labor;  other  men  labored  and  ye 
entered  into  their  labors."  This  is  true  of  thou- 
sands in  Texas  to-day,  who  are  occupying  fat  places 
and  reaping  a  rich  harvest  in  fields  on  which  they 
bestowed  no  labor.  These  pleasant  places  have  been 
created  and  made  possible  through  the  labors  of 
Rev.  James  A.  Smith  and  others  who  took  their 
lives  in  their  hands  and  endured  the  labor,  defied  the 
dangers  of  wild  beasts  and  savage  men  and  con- 
verted these  prairies  from  a  vast  wilderness  into  a 
veritable  paradise  of  Christian  civilization. 

To  preserve  the  memory  of  this  noble  man  of 
God,  and  give  some  little  recognition  to  his  merits, 
I  write  this  imperfect  sketch  of  a  few  of  the  many 
virtues  of  my  old  friend  and  co-laborer,  who  was  the 
first  local  Methodist  preacher  in  Dallas  County,  and 
who  did  more  perhaps  than  any  other  one  man  to 
Christianize  and  Methodize  the  early  settlers  of  this 
community.  In  1846  Brother  Smith  left  Mississippi, 
came  to  Texas  and  settled  near  what  is  now  Caruth 
Chapel.  His  family  consisted  of  his  wife,  three  sons, 
John  Wesley,  Joshua  Fayette,  and  William  Robert, 
and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom  have  long  since  pass- 
ed over  the  river.  William  Robert  became  a  preach- 
er and  member  of  the  North  Texas  Conference. 
Brother  Smith  found  but  few  people  in  this  vast 
country,  some  of  whom  were  Methodists,  who  were 
like  sheep  in  the  wilderness  without  a  shepherd.  To 
these  he  began  at  once  to  preach,  and  they  heard  him 
gladly.  Brother  Smith  was  in  many  respects  a  re- 
markable man.  His  piety  was  of  the  type  of  John 
the  Evangelist,  whose  life  was  always  even  and  con- 
sistent. He  did  not  seem  much  elated  by  success, 
nor  depressed  by  adversity.  He  seemed  to  feel  God 
at  the  helm,  and  he  was  content.  He  had  a  pleasant 
Wesleyan  face  and  was  an  attractive  speaker  and 


110  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

preached  with  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  pow- 
er. I  have  at  no  time  heard  a  more  earnest  and  elo- 
quent local  preacher  than  was  James  A.  Smith. 

He  was  of  a  preaching  family.  Had  two  broth- 
ers, William  and  Wesley,  in  the  Texas  Conference, 
both  strong  men.  He  was  a  prudent  man  and  of  a 
genial  temperament.  He  was  popular  with  saint  and 
sinner,  and  officiated  at  almost  every  wedding  and 
funeral  among  the  early  settlers.  Unlike  most  of  the 
first  settlers,  he  was  a  man  of  considerable  means, 
which  he  used  liberally  in  building  up  the  cause  of 
Christ.  While  he  was  indifferent  perhaps  to  a  fault 
about  personal  dress,  yet  his  manner  was  that  of  a 
polished  Christian  gentleman,  and  he  was  modest 
as  a  lady.  The  first  Methodist  organization  in  Dal- 
las County  was  in  1844,  in  the  house  of  I.  B.  Webb, 
which  was  only  sixteen  feet  square.  This  society 
consisted  of  the  following  names  (as  near  as  I  gel; 
from  the  record)  :  I.  B.  Webb,  Mary  Webb,  W.  M. 
Cochran,  Nancy  J.  Cochran,  Mary  Byrd,  C.  and  J. 
Harris,  David  Shahan,  James  Shelly,  Caroline  Shel- 
ly. To  this  little  company  he  preached  regularly, 
and  the  people  for  many  miles  came  on  foot,  in  ox 
wagons  and  horseback,  to  hear  the  word.  It  was 
not  an  uncommon  thing  then  for  people  to  go  ten  or 
fifteen  miles  to  preaching  when  an  increased  popula- 
tion necessitated  a  larger  house  for  worship,  Brother 
Smith  was  the  largest  contributor  to  build  Cochran 
Chapel,  which  was  the  first  Methodist  Church  built 
in  Dallas  County.  This  house  was  30x40  feet  and 
cost  $1600.  It  was  dedicated  without  debt,  by  the 
Rev.  J.  W.  P.  McKenzie  of  precious  memory.  The 
land  for  the  church  and  graveyard  was  given  by 
the  widow  of  W.  M.  Cochran. 

Brother  Smith  was  the  forerunner  of  John  the 
Baptist  who  prepared  so  well  for  the  future  de.- 
velopment  of  Methodism  which  we  now  enjoy.    The 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  Ill 

little  vine  thus  planted  in  the  wilderness  has  grown 
as  rapidly  as  Jonah's  gourd  vine,  and  its  fruit  is  as 
luxuriant  as  the  clusters  found  by  the  Hebrew  spies 
in  the  promised  land.  Cochran  Chapel  soon  number- 
ed its  members  by  the  hundreds.  As  the  country 
settled  up  the  remoter  members  became  the  nucleus 
of  other  organizations.  Thus  in  less  than  one  man's 
lifetime  this  little  band  has  multiplied  into  more 
than  5,000  members  in  Dallas  County  alone,  and  this 
little  home  as  a  house  grew  into  more  than  a  score 
of  commodious  churches. 

His  death  was  all  we  could  expect  or  desire,  after 
such  a  life.  His  last  illness  was  protracted  through 
many  months,  and  he  sank  gently  and  peacefully  into 
the  arms  of  his  Master,  Whom  he  had  served  so 
well.  He  often  spoke  of  the  peace  of  God  that  filled 
his  soul  with  joy,  and  removed  all  fear  of  death. 
His  life  and  death  were  indeed  beautiful  and  trium- 
phant. "His  witness  is  in  heaven  and  his  record  is 
on  high." 

He  was  one  of  God  and  Nature's  noblemen. 

THE  NOBLEMAN. 

The  nobleman  is  a  Christian  man, 

And  one  God  loves  to  bless, 
For  he  helps  a  fallen  brother 

When  he  finds  him  in  distress. 

His  heart  is  tender  and  compassionate, 

And  free  from  care  and  strife, 
And  every  man  is  his  brother, 

Although  his  station  is  low  in  life. 

The  passions  and  the  weakness 

And  the  sins  of  fallen  man 
He  prays  to  be  forgiven 

As  per  God's  eternal  plan. 


112  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

I  don't  aspire  to  be  a  judge, 
But  those  may  judge  who  can; 

But  in  the  day  of  reckoning 

There  may  be  many  and  many  a  sham. 

Proud  gentlemen  and  ladies 
In  full  dress  to  church  will  go, 

And  take  a  place  of  prominence, 
And  try  to  make  a  show. 

We  see  them  in  the  churches, 
And  we  meet  them  on  the  street, 

With  pride  and  dress  they  are  all  puffed  up 
And  do  not  care  to  speak. 

These  men  and  women  of  the  world 
That  hold  their  heads  so  high, 

A  few  short  years  will  tell  the  tale, 
When  they'll  lay  down  and  die. 

And  a  few  short  months  may  still  pass  on 
And  their  bones  and  flesh  be  rotten, 

And  the  fools  that  held  their  heads  so  high, 
Will  then  all  be  forgotten. 

Courage,  merit  and  Christian  kindness 
Are  the  deeds  esteemed  so  high, 

And  are  treasured  in  the  human  heart, 
And  can  nev'er,  never  die. 

The  title  of  nobility 

That  God  to  man  imparts 
Is  righteousness  and  wisdom 

And  a  kind  and  loving  heart. 

Kings  may  grant  their  titles, 

And  cause  their  noblemen  to  rule, 

With  hearts  as  black  as  midnight, 
And  vindictive,  cross  and  cruel. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  113 

The  world  measures  men  by  wealth  and  rank, 

And  what  they  can  control; 
But  God,  He  measures  moral  worth, 

The  mind,  the  heart,  the  soul. 

— George  Jackson. 


THOU  GOD  SEEST  ME. 

Oh  God,  to  Thee  the  heart  is  known, 

Each  action  and  intent; 
From  Heaven  Thine  everlasting  throne, 

The  searching  spirit  is  sent. 

Thou  seest  the  penitential  tear, 

Thou  hearest  the  mourner's  sigh, 
Desponding  soul,  dismiss  thy  fear, 
For  lo!  thy  God  is  nigh. 

The  thoughts,  though  hid  from  mortal  sight, 

Are  open  unto  Thee. 
Light  as  the  day  is  darkest  night. 

Oh  God,  Thou  seest  me. 

Though  I  should  mount  on  eagle's  wings 

And  soar  through  realms  of  air, 
Still  to  my  soul  Thy  presence  clings, 

For  Thou  art  with  me  there. 

To  Thee  eternity's  as  an  hour, 

Infinite  space  a  span; 
Nor  time  nor  space  can  stay  Thy  power, 

Yet  Thou  rememberest  man. 

When  death's  chill  hand  has  stayed,  life's  tide, 

And  glazed  my  sightless  eyes, 
Thy  presence  then  my  soul  will  guide ; 

My  soul  without  Thee  dies. 


114  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

What  comfort  to  the  Christian's  heart 

When  life's  short  race  is  run; 
The  Judge  doth  know  me,  not  in  part, 

But  all  that  I  have  done. 

— W.  R.  Smith. 

Isaac  B.  Webb  and  family  came  from  Missouri 
in  1844,  and  settled  on  Farmers  Branch.  He  built 
a  house  or  room  16x16,  and  in  this  house  the  first 
Methodist  organization  of  the  county  took  place  in 
1844.  This  society  consisted  of  the  following  names, 
as  near  as  I  get  the  record :  I.  B.  Webb,  Mary  Webb, 
W.  M.  Cochran,  Nancy  J.  Cochran,  Mary  Byrd,  C. 
and  J.  Harris,  David  Shahan,  James,  Shelly,  Caro- 
line Shelly.  This  little  company  the  Rev.  J.  A. 
Smith,  the  pioneer  preacher,  would  preach  to,  and 
others  from  a  distance  would  come  to  hear  him.  The 
Webbs  were  all  good  Methodists  and  took  a  great 
interest  in  the  camp  meetings  of  later  years. 

These  old  pioneers  did  a  great  deal  to  help  the 
religion  and  morals  of  the  early  settlers  of  their  day. 
Their  liberality  and  earnestness  touched  the  hearts 
of  many  that  were  trying  to  live  better  lives.  Wil- 
liam D.  married  Olivia  Merrill.  She  died  several 
years  ago.  J.  Witt  married  Miss  Sarah  Dennis.  She 
died  and  Mr.  Webb  married  again.  They  are  living 
in  Dallas.  The  oldest  daughter  married  Jack  Dennis. 
They  raised  a  large  family.  Mr.  Dennis  died  a  few 
years  ago.  The  next  daughter  married  Howard  Cox. 
They  also  have  a  large  family.  They  all  live  near 
Farmer's  Branch.  Another  one  of  the  daughters, 
Saphronia,  married  Mr.  Ford.  They  now  live  in 
Dallas.  His  son,  I.  W.  Ford,  is  a  prominent  lawyer 
in  this  city.  A  Mr.  Taliaferro  married  Anna  Webb, 
another  daughter.  They  also  live  in  this  county.  J. 
Newt.  Webb  married  Miss  Donnell  and  died  a  few 
years  after.    Samuel  Webb  died  when  a  youth. 


MR.  HARRISON  C.  MARSH 


MRS.  POLLY  MARSH 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  119 

All  the  descendants  of  those  good  old  Methodist 
pioneers  are  highly  respected,  and  have  made  good 
and  upright  citizens. 

Harrison  C.  Marsh  and  wife,  Polly,  came  to 
Texas  in  1843,  from  Missouri.  He  had  only  lived  in 
Missouri  four  years.  He  moved  from  Kentucky, 
being  a  native  of  that  State.  They  had  seven  chil- 
dren born  to  them,  two  sons  and  five  daughters. 
Thomas  C,  the  oldest,  married  Hannah  Husted. 
They  lived  on  the  place  he  first  improved  until  his 
death.  He  died  several  years  ago.  His  widow  died 
recently.  They  raised  a  family  that  is  highly  respec- 
ted by  all  who  know  them. 

J.  D.  Marsh,  the  second  son,  married  Rebecca 
Perry,  a  daughter  of  Western  Perry,  and  they  had 
nine  children  born  to  them — Harrison  F.  Marsh, 
Fanny,  Hollis  W.,  Laura  R.,  John  D.,  who  died  in 
childhood,  Henry  C,  Walter,  Chas.  D.,  and  Thomas. 
Mrs.  Marsh  departed  this  life  in  1880,  age  forty-two 
years.  Mr.  Marsh  married  again  in  1883  to  Miss 
Fanny  Williams.  They  had  two  daughters  born  to 
them.  He  departed  this  life  a  few  years  ago.  The 
widow  and  two  daughters  are  now  living  in  Dallas. 
Mary  Ellen  married  H.  C.  Daggett,  of  Fort  Worth. 
He  departed  this  life  many  years  ago.  Mary, 
second  daughter,  married  J.  J.  McAlister.  They 
are  living  in  Dallas.  Elizabeth  J.  married  E. 
B.  Daggett.  They  are  living  in  Fort  Worth.  Martha 
A.  married  Mark  Allison,  of  this  county.  Charlotte 
M.,  known  by  the  name  of  Pete  when  a  girl,  married 
W.  O.  Neill  of  Tarrant  County. 

The  old  home  of  Harrison  and  Polly  Marsh  brings 
to  mind  many  pleasant  recollections.  It  was  there 
the  young  people  loved  to  meet.  We  had  many  a 
party  there,  and  always  had  a  good  time,  and  those 
dear  old  people  were  always  so  good  and  kind  to  us. 


120  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

When  I  think  of  them,  and  while  I  write  these  lines, 
my  eyes  are  moist.  I  cannot  restrain  or  keep  back 
the  tears.  May  God  bless  them  and  theirs,  as  I  be- 
lieve they  richly  deserve.  They  lived  and  died  on 
the  same  place  they  first  improved.  Mrs.  Marsh 
died  first,  and  was  buried  near  the  old  home.  Mr. 
Marsh  would  often  visit  her  grave,  and  seemed  so 
lonesome,  but  was  patiently  waiting  to  cross  over 
and  join  her  in  the  great  beyond. 

James  M.  Kennedy,  deceased,  was  our  nearest 
neighbor.  His  mother  located  the  adjoining  section 
to  my  father's  headright.  They  were  from  Alabama, 
but  moved  to  Arkansas,  and  in  1845  moved  to  Texas 
with  her  two  sons,  J.  M.  and  Henry  Kennedy.  James, 
the  oldest,  was  15  years  old.  Henry  was  probably 
eighteen  months  younger.  In  1849  Henry  left  his 
mother  and  brother  and  went  to  California  during 
the  gold  excitement  of  that  year,  and  made  a  fortune 
in  California,  but  never  returned  to  Texas,  and 
James  and  his  mother  were  left  to  struggle  alone  on 
the  frontier.  He  received  a  very  limited  education, 
but  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence 
and  soon  became  a  skillful  and  practical  frontier 
man.  He  was  a  good  hunter  and  a  dead  shot,  and 
meat  a  plenty  was  always  provided  for  the  family. 

He  was  very  industrious  and  successful  in  busi- 
ness, and  became  a  full  partner  in  1860  with  W.  H. 
Witt  in  the  splendid  property  known  as  Trinity 
Mills,  with  a  large  store  in  connection  with  the  mill. 

James  Kennedy  married  Miss  Prudence  Rowe 
in  1853,  an  English  lady,  the  daughter  of  W.  B.  and 
Prudence  Rowe.  They  came  from  Devonshire,  Eng- 
land, in  1848,  and  settled  on  Farmer's  Branch.  She 
died  in  1855,  leaving  one  son,  William.  He  is  now" 
a  wealthy  farmer  and  stockman  that  has  raised  a 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  121 

large  family  and  is  now  living  in  the  north  part  of 
the  county. 

In  1858  Mr.  Kennedy  wedded  Miss  Scharlotte 
Drake,  daughter  of  George  D.  and  Rachel  Tomkins 
Drake.  They  emigrated  to  Texas  in  1855  from 
Marshall  County,  Illinois.  They  had  nine  children 
born  to  them,  two  dying  in  infancy.  Six  are  now 
living,  George,  the  oldest,  Samuel  and  James,  twins, 
Marsh,  the  youngest  son;  Ella  Prudence,  the  oldest 
daughter,  married  G.  F.  Myers,  son  of  Rev.  J.  M. 
Myers.  They  were  married  in  1885.  She  died  in 
1890,  leaving  three  children ;  Emma,  the  next  oldest 
daughter,  married  Charles  Jackson,  one  of  my 
brother  John's  sons.  They  have  three  children. 
Mattie,  the  third  daughter,  married  Andrew  Jack- 
son, my  brother  John's  youngest  son.  They  have 
two  children.  Both  families  live  in  Carrollton.  They 
are  farmers,  each  one  of  them  having  a  good  farm. 
They  also  have  a  brick  plant  at  Carrollton  that  has 
been  engaging  their  attention  lately. 

Mr.  Kennedy  when  the  war  broke  out  had  ac- 
cummulated  quite  a  fortune,  but  most  of  it  was 
swept  away  during  the  war.  He  enlisted  in  the  Con- 
federate army  in  1861,  W.  H.  Witt's  company,  Dar- 
nell's regiment,  and  soon  after  transferred  to  Scant- 
ling's squadron,  in  which  he  remained  until  the  war 
closed.  After  the  exemption  law  William  Jackson 
was  made  captain  of  their  company,  and 
James  Kennedy  was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant. 
He  participated  in  many  skirmishes  and  a  number 
of  battles.  I  have  heard  my  brother  say  frequently 
that  he  was  as  brave  a  soldier  as  ever  carried  a  mus- 
ket. He  was  frequently  placed  in  command  of 
squads  that  were  sent  out  as  skirmishers. 

He  departed  this  life  several  years  ago.  His 
widow  is  still  living  on  the  old  homestead  near  Car- 
rollton. 


122  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

JUDGE  NAT  M.  BURFORD 

Was  born  in  the  State  of  Tennessee,  June  24th, 
1824,  and  was  a  son  of  John  H.  and  Nancy  McAlis- 
ter  Burford,  natives  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina 
respectively.  His  parents  were  pioneers  of  Tennes- 
see, and  were  married  in  that  State.  The  father  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation.  He  served  as  captain  in 
the  war  of  1812,  and  distinguished  himself  for 
bravery  and  courage.  He  ended  a  long  and  useful 
career  in  1862.  His  wife  died  in  1870.  They  were 
sturdy,  noble  souls,  people  of  great  integrity  and 
nobility  of  character,  and  representative  types  of 
the  early  settler. 

Nat  M.  grew  to  maturity  in  his  native  State. 
After  a  careful  preparation  by  private  tutors,  he 
entered  Irvins  College  and  took  the  full  course  of 
that  institution.  He  then  read  law,  graduated  at 
the  Lebanon,  Tennessee,  law  school,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1845,  beginning  an  active  prac- 
tice the  following  year.  In  January,  1847,  he  moved 
to  Texas  and  settled  in  Jefferson,  where  he  resided 
until  October,  1848,  at  which  time  he  settled  in  Dal- 
las, where  he  has  been  a  prominent  factor  in  the  de- 
velopment and  progress  of  the  State. 

So  rapidly  did  he  grow  in  popularity  and  public 
esteem  that  in  1850  he  was  elected  District  Attorney. 
He  served  the  term  with  great  satisfaction  to  his 
constituency,  and  was  re-elected  to  the  office  in  1852. 
In  1856  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Fourteenth 
Judicial  District,  which  comprised  a  wide  territory, 
sixteen  counties.  He  traversed  the  section  under 
his  jurisdiction  in  primitive  style,  and  was  always 
received  with  bounteous  hospitality  by  the  settlers. 
During  his  administration  the  State  was  passing 
through  a  transition  period  and  many  cases  of  grave 
and  serious  importance  arose.    His  clear  conception 


JUDGE  NAT  M.  BURFORD 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  125 

of  law,  coupled  with  a  prompt  decision  and  unflinch- 
ing adherence  to  his  convictions,  enabled  him  to 
master  the  situation  under  all  circumstances,  and 
won  for  him  a  wide  and  lasting  reputation. 

During  his  official  career  he  became  the  personal 
friend  of  General  Thomas,  and  made  the  acquaint- 
ance of  many  other  persons  of  distinction.  In  1862 
Judge  Burford  was  made  colonel  of  the  19th  Texas 
Cavalry  in  the  Confederate  service,  and  held  the 
position  until  1864,  when  he  was  obliged  to  resign 
on  account  of  ill  health.  He  resumed  his  legal  prac- 
tice and  was  soon  elected  a  member  of  the  Eleventh 
Assembly  of  Texas,  and  was  chosen  Speaker  of  the 
House.  He  was  in  1876  again  elected  District 
Judge,  an  office  which  he  resigned  at  the  end  of  two 
years.  Since  that  time  to  the  time  of  his  death  he 
lived  a  retired  life. 

Judge  Burford  was  united  in  marriage  in  1854 
to  Miss  Mary  Knight,  a  native  of  Tennessee.  Eight 
children  were  born  to  them.  Mrs.  Burford  died  in 
1888.  She  was  a  faithful  wife,  a  fond  and  careful 
mother,  and  a  woman  of  great  nobleness  of  charac- 
ter. The  children  who  survived  the  mother  are 
named  as  follows :  Mattie,  the  wife  of  William  Free- 
man, Robert  Lee,  Jeff  M.,  and  Mary.  The  children 
have  all  enjoyed  superior  educational  advantages, 
and  have  made  the  most  of  their  opportunities. 

Judge  Burford  was  a  student  all  his  life,  and  was 
one  of  the  most  cultured  gentlemen  in  Dallas  Coun- 
ty. He  was  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and 
for  many  years  he  served  as  vestryman.  Both  in 
public  and  private  life  he  has  lived  above  reproach, 
and  Dallas  County  was  proud  to  claim  Nat  M.  Bur- 
ford as  one  of  her  representative  citizens. 

One  had  to  know  Judge  Burford  to  appreciate 
him.  His  mind  and  intellect  was  superior  to  the 
common  man.    His  memory  was  remarkable.     Gov- 


126  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

ernor  Roberts  said  that  he  had  the  best  memory  of 
any  man  in  the  State.  His  religion  was  the  Golden 
Rule.  He  was  generous  to  a  fault.  No  one  ever  applied 
for  help  without  being  given  freely.  He  abhorred 
hypocricy,  and  was  truly  a  friend  to  the  widow  and 
orphans,  and  during  the  long  period  of  his  practice 
he  never  accepted  a  fee  from  an  attorney.  He  was 
a  friend  always  to  the  young  lawyers,  and  never  too 
busy  to  give  them  advice  and  in  his  quiet  way  to  see 
that  they  got  some  clients. 


JAMES  M.  PATTERSON 

The  pioneer  merchant  of  Dallas,  was  born  near 
Lexington,  Kentucky,  in  1812.  He  came  to  Texas 
in  1846,  and  settled  on  the  Trinity  River.  Where 
Dallas  now  stands  there  was  a  settlement  of  five  or 
six  families  living  in  log  cabins.  He  embarked  in 
the  mercantile  business  soon  after  coming  to  Dallas 
with  J.  W.  Smith,  buying  their  goods  at  Shreveport 
and  transporting  them  on  wagons  drawn  by  oxen  a 
distance  of  200  miles,  and  the  firm  name  of  Smith  & 
Patterson  did  business  in  Dallas  for  many  years  and 
was  known  throughout  the  county.  In  1851  this 
firm  built  a  flat  boat  and  shipped  a  boat  lead  of  cot- 
ton and  hides  down  the  Trinity  River.  They  were 
the  first  to  navigate  the  Trinity  from  Dallas. 

Judge  Patterson  was  a  man  of  good  judgment, 
and  was  successful  in  business.  He  always  made 
his  promises  good.  He  married  in  1848,  on  Farmer's 
Branch,  in  Dallas  County,  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Self. 
In  1854  he  was  elected  Chief  Justice  of  Dallas  Coun- 
ty, and  served  six  terms  until  1866.  During  his  long 
term  of  office  the  affairs  of  the  county  were  wisely 
administered.  He  served  as  judge  with  credit  to 
himself  and  satisfaction  to  his  constituents.  During 
the  war  he  lost  much  of  his  property,  and  had  to 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  127 

begin  life  anew.  His  energy  and  perseverance  soon 
brought  him  success  again,  and  when  Dallas  began 
to  grow  his  landed  estate  began  to  increase  in  value, 
and  he  retired  from  active  business  many  years  be- 
fore his  death,  and  lived  in  ease  in  the  declining 
years  of  his  life,  and  left  a  magnificent  estate  that 
made  his  children  wealthy.  He  departed  this  life  at 
the  age  of  93  years,  honored  and  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him. 


LANCASTER 

The  town  of  Lancaster  is  situated  14  miles  south 
of  Dallas,  and  is  a  very  solid,  substantial  town.  There 
is  nothing  of  the  mushroom  order  about  it.  It  is  a 
very  old  town,  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  county.  She 
has  the  best  of  schools  and  churches,  and  most  of 
the  conveniences  found  in  larger  cities,  and  is  sur- 
rounded by  as  rich  land  as  can  be  found  in  Texas. 
She  has  two  railroads,  the  M.  K.  &  T.  and  a  branch 
of  the  H.  &  T.  C.  Railroad. 

The  town  was  incorporated  in  1886,  and  since 
that  time  has  grown  more  rapidly.  There  were  a 
number  of  energetic  pioneers  that  settled  near  Lan- 
caster in  an  early  day,  that  have  done  much  for  that 
town.  The  Whites  that  were  originally  from  Tennes- 
see moved  to  Texas  in  the  year  1851  and  settled  near 
Lancaster  and  improved  a  farm,  and  a  few  years 
after  they  moved  to  Lancaster  and  have  done  much 
for  the  town,  and  have  become  very  wealthy. 

Jones  Green  and  family  settled  near  Lancaster 
in  an  early  day,  also  Captain  Mid  Perry.  They  were 
prominent  and  useful  men  in  building  up  the  coun- 
try, and  I  have  no  doubt  but  many  of  their  descend- 
ants are  living  in  Lancaster  or  near  the  town. 

The  Henrys  became  identified  with  Lancaster  in 
the  early  sixties,  and  have  done  much  for  the  town, 


128  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

and  have  become  very  wealthy.  The  elder  Henry 
and  family  came  from  France  and  settled  in  what  is 
known  as  old  French  Town,  three  miles  west  of  Dal- 
las, in  1855.  These  French  people  after  a  year  or 
two  scattered  about,  and  their  descendants  can  be 
found  in  almost  every  neighborhood  throughout  the 
country. 

Thomas  McKee  Ellis  was  another  one  of  the 
early  pioneers  that  settled  near  Lancaster.  He 
moved  to  Dallas  County  in  1845,  one  of  those  brave 
and  hardy  men  that  helped  to  blaze  out  the  way  and 
have  done  so  much  for  Texas.  He  contributed  his 
share  in  converting  the  wild  wilderness  of  Texas 
into  a  veritable  Paradise,  and  I  have  no  doubt  but 
many  of  his  descendants  are  living  in  Lancaster  or 
near,  and  have  done  their  share  in  building  up  the 
town,  and  making  it  the  substantial  and  beautiful 
place-  that  it  now  is. 

Roderick  Rawlins  is  another  one  of  the  old  pio- 
neers who  moved  to  Texas  from  Illinois  in  1844  and 
settled  on  the  section  of  land  that  Lancaster  now 
stands  on. 

A.  Bledsoe  moved  to  Dallas  County,  Texas,  from 
Kentucky,  in  the  year  1847,  and  he  bought  one-half 
of  R.  Rawlins'  headright  and  proceeded  to  lay  out 
a  town  on  the  land  and  sell  lots,  and  he  named  the 
town  Lancaster,  after  the  place  of  his  birth  in  Ken- 
tucky. Mr.  R.  A.  Rawlins  married  Miss  Virginia 
Bledsoe,  and  became  the  son-in-law  of  A.  Bledsoe, 
who  has  been  very  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  this 
county.  He  was  Comptroller  for  several  years,  and 
was  also  County  Judge  in  1867-8. 

The  names  herein  mentioned  are  names  of  the 
old  pioneers  that  have  done  so  much  for  Lancaster 
and  vicinity.  Their  names  should  be  kept  fresh  in 
the  memory  of  those  that  live  and  enjoy  the  comforts 
of  this  substantial  and  thriving  town.    The  town  now 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.     .  129 

is  supposed  to  have  fifteen  hundred  or  two  thousand 
inhabitants. 


FARMER'S  BRANCH 

Was  rather  a  noted  place  here  in  the  early  days, 
from  1842  to  1850.  It  was  better  known  than  Dallas. 
There  was  a  blacksmith  shop,  a  mill  and  a  postoffice 
and  a  Methodist  meeting  house,  and  a  number  of 
families  settled  near  there.  Thomas  Keenan  and 
family  came  first,  in  1842.  The  next  was  William 
Cochran  and  family,  in  1843,  and  in  1844  Harrison 
Marsh  and  family  came.  I.  B.  Webb  and  family 
came  in  1844.  Rev.  William  Bowles,  a  Baptist 
preacher,  came  in  1844.  He  married  Mrs.  Rebecca 
Self.  She  had  four  children — Ann,  who  married 
Robert  Walker;  Sarah  E.,  who  married  Judge  J.  M. 
Patterson ;  Harvin  H.,  and  Chonac  Self.  They  were 
most  of  them  grown. 

R.  J.  West  and  family  came  in  1845.  James 
Cheneweth  and  Thomas  Cheneweth  came  in  1845  or 
1846.  Hiram  Vail  came  in  1845.  David  Shahan 
came  in  1844.  William  P.  Shahan  came  single  in 
1844.  John  Nix  came  in  1846.  James  Armstrong 
and  family  came  in  1846.  Noah  Good  and  family, 
1846.  Elisha  Fyke  came  in  1846.  Archer  Fyke,  1846. 
All  of  the  above  named  lived  on  Farmers  Branch, 
or  near  there,  and  there  were  many  others  that  came 
at  a  later  date.  Rev.  William  Bowles  built  a  mill  and 
a  blacksmith  shop.  He  owned  a  negro  named  Jor- 
dan, that  was  a  good  blacksmith,  and  many  people 
would  come  from  a  distance  to  Farmers  Branch  to 
get  their  blacksmithing  done.  For  the  want  of  a 
smith  they  were  like  the  Israelites  of  old,  that  had 
to  go  to  the  Philistine  country  to  get  their  coulters 
and  plows  sharpened.  That  was  the  only  shop  of 
that  kind  in  the  country. 


130  .      Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

The  mill  was  not  a  modern  mill  by  any  means, 
and  I  shall  not  attempt  to  fully  describe  it,  but  will 
state  that  it  was  run  with  a  rawhide  belt,  and  every 
man  that  wanted  a  grist  ground  had  to  furnish  his 
own  power.  Some  would  use  an  ox,  others  a  horse 
or  a  mule,  and  it  took  patience  as  well  as  power ;  and 
When  the  weather  was  damp  and  rainy  the  belt 
would  stretch,  and  all  the  machinery  was  at  a  stand- 
still. 

Farmers  Branch  at  that  time  was  the  most  noted 
place  in  the  county.  They  had  a  mill  and  blacksmith 
shop,  a  Methodist  Church  and  a  Baptist  Church, 
both  built  in  1846,  and  a  school  taught  by  Mrs.  R. 
J.  West,  and  a  postoffice,  the  first  established  in  the 
county,  and  a  small  store.  Isaac  B.  Webb  was  post- 
master. 


COL.  JOHN  C.  McCOY 

To  write  of  the  history  of  Dallas  County,  or  of 
the  history  of  the  great  city  of  Dallas,  it  would  be 
incomplete  without  the  name  of  John  C.  McCoy. 
He  was  a  gentleman  commanding  in  appearance  and 
venerable  in  the  magnificent  character  he  built  up 
for  himself  as  a  true  and  efficient  and  worthy  citi- 
zen. 

He  was  born  in  Clark  County,  Indiana,  Sept.  28, 
1819,  the  youngest  son  of  John  and  Jane  Collins 
McCoy,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  His  grandfather, 
Rev.  William  McCoy,  moved  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Kentucky  in  1790,  coming  down  the  Ohio  River  in 
a  flat  boat,  and  settled  in  Shelby  County.  He  was  a 
Baptist  preacher,  and  made  many  hazardous  jour- 
neys in  Kentucky  and  also  in  Southern  Indiana, 
crossing  the  Ohio  River,  and  penetrated  the  forest 
of  Clark  County,  a  bold,  brave  man.    He  proclaimed 


COL.  JOHN  C.  McCOY 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  133 

the  Gospel  beneath  great  trees  to  the  sparse  settlers 
with  gun  at  his  side. 

Col.  McCoy's  father  was  married  in  Kentucky  in 
1803,  and  afterwards  moved  to  Clark  County, 
Indiana.  He  entered  land  and  improved  it,  and  after 
that  he  moved  to  Jeffersonville,  Indiana,  and  made 
that  his  home  until  his  death,  Sept.  3,  1859.  His 
wife  died  Sept.  1st,  1835,  in  Clark  County,  Indiana. 
This  worthy  couple  had  ten  children,  four  daughters 
and  six  sons,  all  of  them  growing  to  man  and  woman- 
hood except  one  daughter,  but  now  all  are  dead.  The 
eldest  son,  Lewis,  was  the  father  of  John  M.  McCoy, 
Esq.,  of  Dallas,  Texas,  who  was  the  law  partner  of 
Colonel  McCoy  in  Dallas  for  fourteen  years.  Isaac, 
the  third  son,  was  a  prominent  educator  in  Southern 
Illinois,  and  George  R.,  a  prominent  physician,  and 
William  McCoy  became  a  noted  Baptist  preacher  in 
Indiana,  and  no  man  stood  higher  than  he  in  the 
denomination.  He  was  the  continuous  pastor  of  two 
churches  for  over  forty-seven  years.  He  died  May 
22,  1891,  and  left  surviving  him  a  son,  Rev.  John  E. 
McCoy,  a  prominent  Baptist  preacher. 

The  youngest  daughter,  Eliza  McCoy,  was  a  mis- 
sionary to  the  North  American  Indians  for  nine 
years,  beginning  in  1844.  She  was  the  principal 
legatee  of  Col.  McCoy  to  the  magnificent  estate  he 
accumulated  as  a  lawyer  in  Dallas,  Texas.  She  sur- 
vived him  about  five  years,  but  during  that  time  she 
donated  at  least  $75,000  of  her  estate  to  benevolent 
and  religious  institutions,  and  in  her  will  she  be- 
queathed almost  all  of  the  balance  of  her  estate, 
value  $50,000,  to  the  cause  of  missions.  She  died 
November  8th,  1891,  at  Dallas,  Texas.  She  was 
greatly  loved,  honored  and  lamented  as  one  of  the 
most  exemplary  of  Christian  women. 

Col.  McCoy  was  reared  on  a  farm  to  the  age  of 
fifteen  years,  when  in  1834  he  entered  as  a  student 


134  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

in  the  Clark  County  Seminary  for  one  year,  and  was 
also  a  student  one  year  in  Wilmington  Seminary, 
and  in  1836  he  returned  to  Clark  County  Seminary 
for  another  year.     Thus  closed  his  school  days. 

His  first  employment  was  Deputy  Circuit  Clerk 
of  Clark  County,  Indiana,  two  years.  During  his 
spare  time  he  studied  law.  In  1839  he  was  engaged 
in  re-surveying  the  Western  County  line  of  the  State 
of  Missouri  from  the  Missouri  River  south  to  the 
Osage  River.  He  was  next  employed  as  an  enroll- 
ing agent  and  assisted  in  making  payments  to  the 
various  tribes  of  Indians  for  the  Government,  in 
Western  Missouri.  In  1840,  he  assisted  in  drafting 
the  treaty  between  the  Shawnee  and  Delaware  In- 
dians and  the  Government  for  a  portion  of  their 
lands  to  locate  the  Wyandotte  tribe ;  and  on  this  land 
so  acquired  Wyandotte  City  was  built,  and  there  the 
remains  of  that  tribe  are  still  to  be  found.  In  May, 
1840,  he  returned  to  Indiana  and  resumed  the  study 
of  law  in  the  City  of  Jeffersonville,  and  in  May,  1841, 
was  licensed  to  practice  law  in  the  State  and  Federal 
Courts  of  Indiana  and  Kentucky.  He  soon  secured 
a  large  and  lucrative  practice,  which  continued  until 
his  departure  to  Texas. 

The  McCoy  family  that  John  C.  McCoy  was  a 
member  of  was  a  remarkable  family,  sons  and  daugh- 
ters of  a  farmer,  and  they  became  useful  and  very 
prominent  men  and  women  in  Illinois  and  Indiana, 
and  John  C.  McCoy,  that  has  been  so  prominent  and 
useful  in  the  affairs  of  f)allas  County  and  held  sev- 
eral offices  of  honor,  could  have  been  elected  to 
almost  any  office  within  the  gift  of  people,  but  his 
large  and  profitable  law  practice  was  such  that  it 
would  have  been  a  great  sacrifice  on  his  part  to  have 
given  it  up.  He  was  our  first  District  Clerk  in  1846, 
and  was  District  Attorney  for  a  large  district  in 
1856,  and  was  elected  twice  to  the  Legislature  in 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  135 

1862  and  1864,  and  when  Dallas  County  was  organ- 
ized by  John  Neely  Bryan,  in  which  enterprise 
Colonel  McCoy  contributed  his  full  share  of  brain 
work  and  physical  labor,  and  his  services  were  great- 
ly appreciated  by  those  he  had  so  faithfully  served. 

On  December  12,  1844,  Col.  McCoy  having  ac- 
cepted the  position  of  agent  and  surveyor  of  Peters' 
Colony  in  Texas,  he  embarked  for  New  Orleans  en 
route  to  the  wild  scenes  of  the  great  Empire  State, 
with  a  few  others.  They  went  by  way  of  Galveston, 
and  from  there  to  the  interior;  to  Houston  in  a 
steamboat  by  way  of  Buffalo  Bayou,  and  from  there 
with  teams  to  Cincinnati  on  the  Trinity  River,  and 
there  constructed  a  raft  or  flat  boat  6i/2x36  feet, 
and  placed  their  wares  on  said  raft  and  proceeded 
up  the  river  to  Ft.  Alabama,  making  such  progress 
as  their  strength  would  permit.  At  that  point  they 
abandoned  the  boat  and  engaged  two  ox  teams,  and 
made  better  and  easier  progress  to  Fort  Houston. 
There  they  left  a  part  of  their  goods,  and  Col.  McCoy 
and  Captain  Hensley  bought  two  ponies,  and  they 
rode  on  in  advance  of  their  party  on  those  bronchos 
to  the  place  where  Dallas  is  now  situated,  and  they 
found  Colonel  John  Neely  Bryan  established  in  a  log 
cabin  10x12  feet  in  extent.  He  cordially  received 
them.  He  was  dressed  in  buckskin,  and  his  feet  en- 
cased in  moccasins. 

In  1845  the  Company  started  out  to  prosecute 
their  survey.  Capt.  Hensley  being  called  to  Ken- 
tucky, Colonel  McCoy  fell  heir  to  the  absolute  con- 
trol of  Peters'  Colony.  1846  he  servered  his  connec- 
tion with  the  Colony  authorities,  and  in  June,  1846, 
he  began  his  career  as  an  independent  but  active  and 
zealous  citizen  of  Dallas  County.  He  was  the  first 
to  erect  a  frame  house  in  the  City  of  Dallas,  and  he 
introduced  a  style  of  architecture  superior  to  that  of 
the  log  cabin.    He  cultivated  and  beautified  not  only 


136  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

his  own  home,  but  also  extended  his  ideas  into  the 
public  interest  of  the  county,  and  to  him  Dallas 
County  was  indebted  for  the  magnificent  trees  that 
adorned  the  Court  House  square. 

In  1851  Col.  McCoy  was  married  to  Miss  Cora  M. 
McDermett,  daughter  of  J.  B.  McDermett  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  a  brother-in-law  of  David  R.  Porter, 
Governor  of  Pennsylvania.  His  residence  was 
situated  on  the  corner  of  Commerce  and  Lamar 
Streets,  and  was  the  home  of  gayety  and  frequented 
by  all  who  wanted  to  steal  away  from  the  cares  of  a 
busy  life.  His  was  a  happy  home,  but  destined  also 
to  be  of  short  duration.  The  young  wife,  that  gave 
him  so  much  love  and  made  his  home  a  veritable 
paradise,  was  snatched  away  by  the  relentless  jaws 
of  death  before  the  babe  could  lisp  the  holy  name  of 
Mother,  and  for  over  thirty-six  years  Colonel  McCoy 
walked  alone  in  the  shadow  of  his  ever  present  sor- 
row. 

In  1861,  when  the  Civil  War,  ominous  of  the 
worst,  broke  forth  upon  the  country,  Governor  Clark 
recognized  administrative  ability  of  the  highest 
order  in  the  systematic  and  determined  character 
and  will  of  Colonel  McCoy,  and  appointed  him  to  be 
quartermaster  of  the  regiments  commanded  by 
Colonels  Young,  Simmes,  Lack  and  Parsons.  When 
these  commands  were  mustered  into  the  Confederate 
service  Colonel  McCoy  was  retained  by  Governor 
Clark  in  the  military  service  of  the  State,  and  as- 
signed to  duty  as  mustering  officer  for  the  regiments 
that  were  subsequently  carried  into  the  Confederate 
army  by  Colonels  Burford  and  T.  C.  Haupe.  His 
further  duties  as  a  military  man  were  devoted  to  the 
enrollment  of  soldiers  from  Dallas  County,  and  as 
Provost  Marshal  of  the  same. 

Colonel  McCoy  showed  his  strongest  character- 
istic in  his  love  for  little  children.     In  this  com- 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  137 

mimity  no  man  enjoyed  so  much  esteem  among  the 
juvenile  element  as  he,  and  even  the  humblest  ap- 
proached him  with  confidence.  Christmas  they  never 
failed  to  find  him  prepared  for  the  visits  of  his  little 
friends,  and  Uncle  Mac's  Christmas  tree  from  the 
force  of  custom  had  grown  into  one  of  the  established 
institutions  of  the  ctiy.  His  invitations  were  given 
through  the  newspapers.  No  better  nor  higher 
eulogism  can  ever  be  pronounced  upon  his  character 
than  the  single  simple  sentence,  he  was  the  chil- 
dren's friend. 

Colonel  McCoy  united  with  the  first  Baptist 
Church  of  Dallas  in  October,  1880,  and  was  ever 
afterward  an  active  and  efficient  member,  aiding 
liberally  in  all  Church  work.  His  final  summons 
came  the  30th  of  April,  1887,  when  he  departed  this 
life  mourned  by  his  many  friends. 

The  following  selection  is  from  a  tablet  of  thanks 
presented  to  Miss  Eliza  McCoy  in  return  for  a  por- 
trait of  Colonel  McCoy  presented  by  her  to  the  Dal- 
las Commandery  No.  6  Knights  Templar: 

Miss  Eliza  McCoy, 

Dallas,  Texas. 

Honored  Miss: 

It  was  the  pleasure  of  DALLAS  COMM- 
ANDERY No.  6,  KNIGHTS  TEMPLAR,  to  appoint 
the  undersigned  a  committee,  to  express  to  you, 
thanks,  for  the  highly  appreciated  and  invaluable 
gift  of  the  beautiful  and  life-like  portrait  of  your 
deeply  lamented  brother.  Col.  John  C.  McCoy,  Past 
Grand  Commander  Knights  Templar  of  the  State  of 
Texas.  His  death  caused  more  unfeigned  pain  and 
regrets  than  perhaps  ai  y  other  mason  in  Texas  who 
has  passed  the  dark  river  to  enjoy  the  celestial  de- 
lights in  the  "great  be?  ond." 

The  only  consolation   a  mournful  one,  is  that  he 


138  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

lived  to  the  fullness  of  time  allotted  to  man  and  like 
a  sheaf  of  wheat,  was  cut  down  when  fully  ripe.  No 
Mason  in  Texas  can  ever  forget  his  zeal  in  behalf  of 
masonry  when  wars  and  dissensions  occurred  be- 
tween the  North  and  the  South,  when  nearly  every 
Christian,  social  and  benevolent  organization  in  this 
State  was  disrupted  and  in  many  instances  aband- 
oned, your  honored  brother,  Sir  Knight,  John  C. 
McCoy,  at  his  own  individual  expense,  paid  Chapter, 
personal,  lodge  and  commandery  dues  for  members 
and  kept  the  lights  burning  on  all  the  altars  of  Free 
Masonry  in  Dallas. 

No  Mason  ever  knew  John  C.  McCoy,  who  did 
not  love  him  and  his  grand  character  and  his  kind 
consideration  to  the  wants  of  every  destitute  Mason, 
or  his  widow  and  orphans,  have  so  endeared  him  to 
Masons  that  his  noble  countenance,  his  commanding 
person  and  his  benevolent  kindness  has  photo- 
graphed his  memory  on  the  hearts  of  every  member 
of  the  order. 

Hoping,  dear  Miss,  that  you  may  live  long  to  enjoy 
the  high  esteem  of  all  who  have  the  honor  and  pleas- 
ure of  knowing  you  and  your  dear  and  noble  brother, 
we  are,  sincerely  and  truly, 

Your  friends  and  brothers, 

L.  M.  KNEPFLY, 
GEO.  H.  GREENE, 
A.  A.  JOHNSTON, 

Committee. 


CAPTAIN  WM.  McKAMY 

Moved  from  Rone  County,  Tennessee,  to  Texas 
in  1851,  and  stopped  in  Wood  County  one  year,  and 
in  1852  moved  to  Dallas  County  and  bought  the  home 
and  mill  on  White  Rock,  from  Jack  and  Tom  Mounts. 
He  with  his  young  wife  and  small  family  took  pos- 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  139 

session  of  the  home  and  began  to  improve  it.  He  was 
very  successful  in  business,  and  soon  accumulated  a 
large  landed  estate.  They  had  four  sons  and  one 
daughter  born  to  them ;  Albert,  the  oldest,  who  mar- 
ried Ellen  Simpson.  He  departed  this  life  a  few 
months  ago,  leaving  a  wife  and  large  family.  They 
have  six  grown  sons. 

He  also  left  a  large  estate  in  Denton  County,  a 
few  miles  from  the  old  homestead. 

Mrs.  Albert  McKamy  was  the  daughter  of 
Lionel  and  Mary  Simpson.  John  McKamy,  the 
second  son,  married  Anna  Simpson.  They  own  a 
large  estate  situated  on  the  line  of  Collin  and  Dallas 
Counties,  near  Frankfort.  Mary  McKamy,  the 
daughter,  married  Colonel  Bishop,  and  she  died  near- 
ly thirty  years  since,  leaving  one  son,  William 
Bishop,  a  very  wealthy  farmer  and  stock  man.  He 
is  now  living  on  the  old  Simpson  homestead. 

W.  C.  McKamy,  his  third  son,  has  been  our  State 
Senator  for  two  terms,  and  served  one  term  in  the 
House.  He  is  now  living  on  the  old  McKamy  home- 
stead. Charles,  his  fourth  son,  departed  this  life 
many  years  ago,  just  about  the  time  he  was  reaching 
man's  estate.  Capt.  McKamy  enlisted  in  Captain 
Lafayette  Smith's  company  in  Col.  Stone's  regiment, 
and  served  in  that  company  until  the  troops  were 
sent  across  the  Mississippi  River.  The  troops  were 
dismounted  and  McKamy  was  detailed  to  take  the 
horses  home,  and  distribute  them  to  the  families. 
He  then  enlisted  in  Ben  McCullough's  regiment,  and 
was  elected  captain.  He  was  in  the  Battle  of  Elk 
Horn  and  other  engagements,  and  later  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  frontier  to  Gen.  Bourland's  command, 
where  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

Capt.  McKamy  and  wife  were  Methodists,  and 
took  a  great  interest  in  the  camp  meetings,  and 
always  provided  liberally  for  them.    Their  residence 


140  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

was  near  the  old  camp  grounds  on  White  Rock  Creek. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  McKamy  have  both  passed  away. 
Mrs.  McKamy  died  first,  several  years  ago.     They 
were  honored  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  them. 


ROBERT  J.  WEST 

Was  born  in  Washington  County,  Tennessee,  in 
1812,  and  there  married  Mary  Ann  Ryland,  a  native 
of  the  same  county,  and  they  moved  to  Texas  in  1845, 
and  settled  on  Farmer's  Branch,  and  lived  there  until 
the  time  of  his  death.  His  family  was  reared  on  the 
same  place  and  there  grew  to  man  and  womanhood. 
Mr.  West  moved  to  Texas  on  account  of  his  health. 
He  had  lung  trouble,  and  was  in  failing  health.  He 
recovered  rapidly  after  reaching  Texas. 

Mr.  West  was  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the 
county  in  an  early  day.  He  was  the  first  Treasurer 
of  the  county,  and  one  of  the  first  County  Commis- 
sioners. 

Mr.  West  was  a  slave  owner,  and  treated  his 
slaves  with  such  consideration  and  kindness  that  his 
negroes  thought  more  of  "Old  Master  and  Mistress" 
than  any  one  else  in  the  world. 

There  were  six  children  born  to  them,  Helena, 
the  oldest  daughter,  who  first  married  T.  J.  Winn, 
and  after  his  death  Dr.  C.  C.  Gillespie.  J.  R.  West, 
of  Dallas,  is  the  oldest  son.  The  late  Robert  H.  West 
was  his  second  son.  He  was  County  Judge  of  Dallas 
County,  and  also  filled  other  offices  of  honor  and  trust 
in  the  county.  He  departed  this  life  the  19th  of 
April,  1905.  Annie  R.,  married  William  Winn.  She 
departed  this  life  many  years  ago. 

Martha  Alise,  married  Thomas  Floyd. 

Marie  Catherine,  who  died  in  infancy. 

John  West,  Jr.,  son  of  J.  R.  West,  is  our  County 
Surveyor  and  has  been  for  some  time. 


ROBERT  J.   WEST 


COL.  T.  J.  NASH 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  145 

THOS.  J.  NASH  AND  ELIZA  FLOOD  NASH 

Were  natives  of  Virginia,  both  born  near  Appo- 
matox,  and  of  Scotch  Irish  descent.  Thomas  J. 
Nash  was  born  in  1808;  went  to  Kentucky  in  1815, 
being  one  of  the  pioneers  of  that  State.  He  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  as  also  was  his  father,  Thomas 
Nash. 

Thomas  J.  Nash  received  a  superior  education 
for  a  country  boy  of  his  day,  and  started  out  in  life 
with  fair  prospects  in  Marion  County,  Kentucky.  He 
was  elected  to  various  offices  of  minor  importance, 
and  when  in  his  fortieth  year  was  elected  as  Repre- 
sentative of  his  county  to  the  State  Legislature. 
Previous  to  this  he  raised  a  regiment  of  men  and 
offered  his  services  to  the  United  States  for  the  war 
with  Mexico.  His  offer  was  not  accepted ;  the  gov- 
ernment had  more  men  than  they  needed.  He  was  a 
Democrat,  the  Governor  of  Kentucky  a  Whig,  and 
did  not  accept  the  the  services  of  any  colonel  in  Ken- 
tucky who  was  a  Democrat.  He  came  to  Texas  in 
1854,  and  settled  six  miles  north  of  Dallas.  In  1857 
he  permanently  located  near  Garland.  He  bought  a 
large  tract  of  wild  land  and  improved  it  and  devel- 
oped a  fine  farm,  and  by  the  time  the  war  came  on 
he  had  a  good  farm  and  plenty  of  stock,  and  about 
fifteen  negro  slaves,  having  brought  four  negro 
women  and  five  negro  men  from  Kentucky. 

He  was  a  man  of  good  judgment,  and  more  than 
ordinary  intelligence,  and  took  an  active  part  in  poli- 
tics. He  was  elected  County  Commissioner  in  1858, 
and  his  services  to  the  county  was  very  satisfactory. 
In  1861  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Secession 
Convention,  and  was  made  a  recognized  authority 
on  many  subjects,  and  especially  on  State  rights. 

When  the  war  came  on  he  was  getting  up  in  years, 
and  did  not  enter  into  active  service,  but  he  did  whaf 


146  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

he  could  to  help  the  Confederate  cause,  as  a  civilian. 
In  1876  he  was  again  elected  County  Commissioner, 
and  served  two  years  with  satisfaction  to  his  con- 
stituents. 

For  many  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity.  He  was  also  a  consistent  and  active 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  nearly 
all  his  life,  and  took  great  interest  in  Church  affairs. 
He  died  March  3rd,  1886.  His  wife  died  July  7th, 
1873.  She  was  a  member  of  the  same  Church,  a 
devoted  Christian,  and  possessed  of  many  amiable 
traits  of  character.  Both  she  and  her  husband  were 
honored  and  held  in  high  esteem  by  all  who  knew 
them.  Her  father,  Charles  Flood,  was  a  first  cousin 
of  the  celebrated  Peter  Cartwright. 

Of  their  "fifteen  children  eleven  lived  to  be  grown, 
and  six  still  survive.  The  eleven  are  as  follows : 
Lucy  J.,  widow  of  Jerry  Brown,  resides  in  Seattle, 
Washington ;  Marietta,  deceased ;  Isabella,  deceased, 
wife  of  J.  W.  Jones;  George  W.,  of  Grayson  County, 
Texas;  C.  L.,  of  this  county;  J.  J.,  deceased;  Adelia, 
deceased;  Mary  E.,  deceased,  wife  of  T.  J.  Jackson; 
Thomas  F. ;  Albert  R.,  a  Methodist  minister  of  Kauf- 
man County,  who  has  been  preaching  in  the  North 
Texas  Conference  many  years,  and  is  now  stationed 
in  the  town  of  Kaufman,  Texas;  Anna  E.,  wife  of 
John  Jackson,  of  this  county;  Emma  E.,  deceased. 
Thomas  F.  Nash,  our  present  District  Judge,  has 
been  elected  by  the  people  of  this  county  twice  to  the 
Legislature.  He  served  in  the  Seventeenth  and 
Eighteenth  Legislature,  and  he  was  also  elected 
County  Judge  and  served  two  terms,  from  1892  to 
1896.  He  was  elected  District  Judge  in  1900,  re- 
elected without  opposition  in  1904,  and  is  now  serv- 
ing his  third  term. 

T.  F.  Nash's  father  and  grand  father  were  both 


JOHN  H.  COLE 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  149 

slave  owners,  and  his  mother's  father  was  a  slave 
owner.  His  father  owned  about  twenty  slaves  when 
the  war  ended  and  lost  their  value,  of  course,  by 
emancipation. 

Thomas  J.  Nash,  though  a  Democrat  and  seces- 
sionist, always  believed  in  Henry  Clay's  doctrine  of 
gradual  emancipation.  Again,  he  never  would  sell 
his  negroes,  because  he  could  not  well  sell  a  whole 
family  together.  In  othere  words,  he  would  not  sell 
a  mother  from  her  child— a  child  from  its  mother — 
nor  separate  brothers  and  sisters. 


JOHN  H.  COLE 

John  H.  Cole,  who  departed  this  life  last  January, 
was  a  retired  farmer  of  Dallas  County.  He  was 
born  in  Robertson  County,  Tennessee,  in  January, 
1827,  the  fifth  of  ten  children  born  to  John  and 
Mary  (McDonald)  Cole,  natives  of  Virginia.  His 
father  moved  to  Tennessee  in  an  early  day,  where  he 
was  a  farmer  and  a  physician.  He  was  also  one  of 
the  early  practitioners  of  Dallas  County,  and  in  1829 
he  moved  to  Washington  County,  Arkansas,  and  im- 
proved a  farm,  and  in  1843  he  again  came  to  Dal- 
las County.  His  640  acre  section  of  land  that  now 
joins  the  city  is  the  claim  that  he  first  settled  on. 
In  the  year  1850  there  was  a  vote  taken  to  decide 
where  the  county  seat  of  Dallas  County  should  be 
located,  and  Cedar  Springs,  not  far  from  John  H. 
Cole's  place,  was  one  point  voted  on,  but  failed  to 
get  the  required  number  of  votes.  Dallas  and  Hord's 
Ridge  each  got  a  few  more  votes  than  did 
Cedar  Springs.  Dr.  John  Cole,  the  father  of 
John  H.  Cole,  was  the  first  probate  judge  of  Dallas 
County.  He  died  in  the  spring  of  1851.  John  H. 
Cole,  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  probably  was  identi- 
fied with  Dallas  County  and  its  interest  a  longer 


150  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

time  than  any  man  that  has  ever  lived  in  Dallas. 
He  was  nearly  grown  when  he  came,  and  from  1843 
up  until  his  death,  that  recently  took  place,  he  has 
been  an  honored  and  highly  respected  citizen  of 
Dallas.  He  was  the  first  county  surveyor  of  Dallas 
County,  and  was  also  the  first  notary  public.  His 
son,  George  C.  Cole,  that  departed  this  life  a  few 
years  ago,  was  a  very  prominent  lawyer,  and  had 
held  several  offices  in  the  county,  being  a  member  of 
the  City  Council  for  some  time,  and  was  once  a  can- 
didate for  mayor,  and  went  through  one  of  the  most 
exciting  campaigns  that  has  ever  taken  place  in  this 
county.  He  was  defeated  by  a  very  small  majority. 
John  H.  Cole  has  been  interested  in  the  welfare  of 
Dallas  a  long  time.  He  was  here  when  Dallas  was 
born,  and  he  has  been  with  Dallas  and  for  Dallas  up 
to  the  time  of  his  death,  and  has  seen  Dallas  grow 
from  one  or  two  families  to  ninety  thousand  peo- 
ple. 

He  was  an  unassuming,  quiet  man  but  such  men 
give  strength  and  stamina  to  any  country,  and  they 
are  really  the  back  bone  and  principal  men  of  the 
country.  He  left  four  children  that  survive  him — 
John  Dallas  Cole,  Margaret,  wife  of  W.  R.  Myers, 
and  Hester  F.,  wife  of  Dr.  Gillespie,  and  Cora  A. 
Cole,  at  home;  four  dead;  George  C.  Cole,  Walter 
F.  Cole,  Annie  L.  Cole,  and  Lottie  Cole. 

John  H.  Cole  surveyed  more  land  and  located 
more  homes  than  any  man  in  Dallas  County.  He 
left  a  large  and  valuable  estate  and  his  children  and 
grand  children  are  wealthy.  He  was  married  in 
Dallas  County,  1856,  to  Elizabeth  Preston,  a  native 
of  Tennessee  and  grand  daughter  of  Capt.  George 
Preston,  an  early  pioneer  of  Tennessee,  and  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Creek  War.  She  departed  this  life  in 
1891. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  151 

Happenings  in  Dallas  Before 
the  Civil  War 

Files  of  the  Dallas  Herald  from  1855  to  1860 
record  some  of  the  stirring  scenes.     Away  back  in 
1859  The  Dallas  Herald,  under  the  capable  manage- 
ment of  Latimer  &  Swindell,  was  the  leading  weekly 
journal  of  North  Texas,  "With  our  Country,  May 
she  always  be  right,  but  right  or  wrong,  our  Coun- 
try," as  its  motto.     The  Herald  was  what  would  be 
termed  in  these  days  a  live  wire.     For  many  years 
after  the  date  given  above  the  paper  continued  the 
most  popular  medium  in  this  section.    Under  differ- 
ent managements,  at  different  times,  the  policies  of 
the  paper  were  always  progressive.     Colonel  W.  L. 
Hall  was  the  last  owner  of  the  original  Dallas  Her- 
ald.    Colonel  Hall  is  now  a  prominent  lawyer  and 
general  attorney  for  the  Texas  &  Pacific,  but  in 
those  days  he  was  a  well  known  and  an  influential 
editor.    He  has  a  file  of  The  Dallas  Herald  from  1858 
down  to  the  time  it  was  sold  and  discontinued,  some 
twenty  years  later.     The  Colonel  granted  me  the 
privilege  of  looking  over  these  papers  and  getting 
what  information  I  could  and  see  what  the  doings 
of  these  early  Dallasites  were  from  week  to  week. 
The  City  of  Dallas  1859— population,  white.  .  .  .678 

Negroes — slaves    

Dallas,  1859,  was  a  fild  frontier  town,  and  Co- 
manche and  Wichita  Indians  roamed  the  prairies  to 
the  west  of  us.  Under  date  of  March  16th,  1859, 
The  Dallas  Herald  announces  that  P.  Ayers  of  Tar- 
rant County  brings  in  the  information  of  a  fight 
between  sixty  U.  S.  troops  and  a  large  band  of 
Comanches,  and  Wichita  Indians.  The  fight  took 
place  near  Fort  Arbuckle.  The  soldiers  had  started 
from  that  point  on  a  scouting  expedition.    Lieuten- 


152  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

ant  Powell,  of  Fort  Arbuckle,  was  in  command.  The 
Indians  were  completely  routed,  several  of  them  be- 
ing killed.  The  Comanches  were  the  Sioux  Indians 
of  the  Southwest.  They  were  brave,  cruel  and  a 
hardy  people,  most  of  them  over  six  feet  tall,  and 
when  painted  for  the  fight  they  looked  like  some- 
thing terrible,  and  as  late  as  the  '70s  they  kept  West 
Texas  in  a  constant  turmoil  with  their  raids  and 
barbarous  cruelties. 

INDIANS  RAID  JACKSBORO 

Just  before  the  War  between  the  States  began  a 
series  of  depredations  extending  from  the  coast  to 
the  Canadian  border.  Dallas  citizens  responded 
nobly  to  the  following  letter  which  was  printed  in 
the  Herald : 

"Jacksboro,  Nov.  26,  1861. 

"I  am  requested  by  the  citizens  of  this  place  to 
ask  your  immediate  assistance.  The  Indians  have 
murdered  three  families  within  four  miles  of  this 
town,  and  proceeded  in  the  direction  of  Briscoe, 
murdering  all  who  live  there,  as  smoke  is  plainly 
seen  rising  from  their  houses.  Never  before  have 
we  seen  so  much  anguish.  Men,  women  and  chil- 
dren lie  mangled  corpses,  at  the  houses  of  Mrs.  Gage, 
Mr.  Landman  and  Mr.  Hayes.  Such  atrocities  have 
never  before  been  committed  in  our  country.  I 
hope  that  every  man  who  will  turn  out  will  bring  as 
much  bread  stuff  and  ammunition  with  him  as  is 
convenient,  and  to  remember  to  take  mules  and 
horses.  Let  no  man  hesitate  who  wishes  our  people 
well.  This  is  a  time  of  need  to  us,  and  the  brave 
spirits  of  Parker  County,  we  have  to  appeal  lose  no 
time  in  coming  to  our  assistance." 

Mr.  John  Fields  of  Oak  Lawn,  Dallas,  Texas, 
about  this  time  was  at  Fort  Arbuckle.  The 
Comanche   Indians  then  were  very  bad.     He  was 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  153 

somewhat  acquainted  with  a  Comanche  chief  that 
was  half  civilized,  and  through  him  he  learned  that 
the  Comanches  had  three  children  by  the  name  of 
Savage.    They  were  of  two  families.    Their  fathers' 
names  were  Bolan  and  James.    They  were  killed  and 
scalped  when  the  children  were  stolen.     Mr.  Fields 
got  one  of  the  arrows  that  one  of  the  Savages  was 
killed   with.     Their   wives   got   away.     Mr.   Fields 
made  a  bargain  with  the  old  chief  for  the  delivery 
of  the  children  to  Fort  Arbuckle.    The  chief  brought 
the  two  boys  but  left  the  girl,  and  Mr.  Fields  had  to 
give  a  horse,  saddle  and  bridle  for  the  girl.     Th^ 
mothers   no   one  knew   where   to   find   them.     Mr. 
Fields  rode  to  McKinney  and  advertised  them  in  the 
McKinney  Messenger,  and  one  of  the  mothers  got 
the  news,  and  soon  claimed  the  children.    The  other 
mother  was  found  near    Lewisville,    Texas.     The 
mothers  wanted  to  give  Mr.  Fields  a  fine  horse,  but 
he  refused  to  accept  it.     The  horse  was  about  all 
they    had.     The    Mr.     Savages    were    killed    and 
scalped,  and  the  children    stolen    near    Comanche 
Peak.    Not  a  great  many  years  ago  a  reporter  for  a 
paper  heard  Mr.  Fields  telling  this  story,  and  he 
published  it,  and  not  long  after  he  received  a  letter 
from  the  Mr.  Savages.     They  now  reside  in  Texas. 
Their  names  are  Sammy  and  Jimmy  Savage.     The 
girl's  name  was  Malindy  Savage.    She  married,  her 
brother  says  in  his  letter,  and  raised  a  large  family. 
She  died  not  many  years  ago.     From  1858  to  the 
close  of  the  war  Texas  was  threatened  from  almost 
every  quarter,  and  it  has  always  been  a  wonder  to 
me  how  she  escaped  as  well  as  she  did. 

Secession  Convention  met  at  Austin  February 
18,  1861.  In  North  Texas  there  were  a  great  many 
union  men,  but  there  was  a  majority  favoring  seces- 
sion in  Dallas  County,  and  quite  an  exciting  election 
when  the  candidates  to  the   Secession   Convention 


154  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

were  elected.  For  the  purpose  of  considering  the 
question  the  following  names  were  elected  from  Dal- 
las County :  J.  B.  Smith,  J.  B.  Floyd,  Pleasant  Tay- 
lor and  T.  J.  Nash.  Mr.  Smith  resigned,  and  at  the 
earnest  solicitation  of  the  voters  of  Dallas  County 
E.  B.  Nicholson  accepted  the  vacant  place.  The 
Convention  met  on  the  18th  of  February,  1861,  and 
an  ordinance  was  passed  dissolving  the  union  be- 
tween the  State  of  Texas  and  the  other  States  united 
in  compact,  and  styled  United  States  of  America. 
When  the  vote  was  taken  Dallas  County  voted  741 
for  secession,  and  237  against  it. 

The  secession  movement  was  strongly  opposed 
in  Grayson  and  Collin  Counties,  according  to  figures 
given  by  the  Herald,  as  these  two  counties  voted 
1849  against  secession  and  868  for  it.  The  Dallas 
Herald  reads  that  when  the  news  of  the  vote  in 
Texas  was  received  the  people  of  the  city  joyfully 
assembled  at  the  Court  House  and  saluted  the  Texas 
flag.  In  the  meantime,  John  J.  Good  ordered  the 
Dallas  Light  Artillery  to  assemble  at  Lancaster, 
armed  and  equipped  as  the  law  directs,  with  twenty 
rounds  of  blank  cartridges. 

DALLAS  CITY  GOVERNMENT 

On  April  10th,  1861,  the  Dallas  municipal  gov- 
ernment was  composed  of  J.  L.  Smith,  Mayor;  J. 
M.  McAuley,  Constable;  W.  F.  Murphy,  Treasurer; 
G.  W.  Guess,  Recorder;  J.  N.  Smith,  S.  B.  Prayer, 
W.  W.  Peak,  T.  W.  Hunt,  and  George  W.  Guess, 
Aldermen.  All  these  gentlemen  were  heartily  in 
favor  of  secession,  and  assisted  in  the  preparation 
for  the  coming  struggle.  About  this  time  three 
thousand  Mexican  soldiers  were  reported  in  the 
columns  of  the  Herald  to  be  advancing  on  Browns- 
ville, Texas.  Couriers  brought  in  the  news  that 
some  nine  hundred  hostile   Indians  were   crossing 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  155 

Red  River  into  Texas.  The  French  and  English 
were  beginning  the  war  in  Mexico.  That  would  put 
Maximilian  on  the  throne.  Lincoln  had  called  for 
75,000  volunteers.  Texas  with  a  small  population 
had  armed  men  crossing  her  borders  from  Okla- 
homa, Mexico  and  the  East.  The  Herald  rings  with 
the  preparations  to  meet  these  dangers.  Such  mer- 
chants as  Jones  &  Dunaway,  I.  W.  Wells  &  Bro., 
Mott  &  Peak,  E.  M.  Stackpole,  made  generous  dona- 
tions in  flour  and  other  supplies  to  the  soldiers  of 
Texas.  The  war  was  on,  and  for  four  years  the 
country  was  to  shake  with  the  tramp  of  host  and 
the  roar  of  artillery  until  the  final  scene  of  the 
tragedy,  Appomattox. 

THE  HEDGECOX  WAR 

In  1851  a  company  of  men  from  Collin  and  Dal- 
las Counties  held  a  meeting  to  consider  what  course 
to  pursue  and  what  was  best  to  be  done  with  Hedge- 
cox  and  the  agents  of  Peters'  Colony.  The  Hedge- 
cox  office  was  situated  in  Denton  County,  about 
twenty  miles  north  of  Dallas.  The  pioneers  were 
dissatisfied.  The  State  of  Texas  was  granting  to 
heads  of  families  outside  of  this  Colony  640  acres  of 
land,  and  to  single  men  seventeen  years  old  or  over 
320  acres,  and  Peters  and  associates  did  not  want  to 
allow  the  emigrants  to  Peters'  Colony  just  half  that 
amount.  The  settlers  became  so  aroused  over  it, 
they  decided  to  take  matters  into  their  own  hands, 
and  they  organized  a  company  of  a  hundred  men  and 
elected  John  J.  Good,  of  Dallas,  captain  and  com- 
mander of  the  company,  and  they  advanced  on 
Stewardsville,  that  being  the  name  of  the  place.  It 
was  known  by  that  name  in  the  other  States  and  in 
England,  where  the  Colony  had  been  so  liberally 
advertised,  but  here  it  was  known  as  Hedgecox's 
Office.    They  took  possession  of  the  place,  and  gave 


156  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

Hedgecox  and  his  clerks  notice  to  leave  the  country. 
Hedgecox  or  his  daughter  concealed  or  got  away 
with  part  of  the  papers.  The  office  was  broken  up 
entirely. 

The  contract  that  Peters  and  associates  had  with 
the  Republic  of  Texas  was  as  follows :  They  agreed 
to  deliver  as  many  as  two  hundred  and  fifty  families 
annually,  with  the  privilege  of  getting  as  many  as 
ten  thousand  families  before  the  expiration  of  the 
time,  which  was  July  1,  1848,  the  contract  being 
made  and  entered  into  in  1843.  Said  company  was 
to  build  or  provide  cabins  for  each  family,  and  if 
the  company  failed  to  get  two  hundred  and  fifty 
families  located  annually  the  contract  was  null  and 
void.  For  this  service  the  Republic  agreed  to  give 
every  alternate  section  of  land.  But  before  the  land 
was  conveyed  to  the  company  the  said  company  was 
to  pay  $12.00  in  specie  into  the  treasury  of  the  Re- 
public for  each  section  so  conveyed,  and  the  com- 
pany was  to  give  settlers  not  less  than  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  or  more  than  six  hundred  and  forty 
acres  to  each  head  of  a  family. 

The  Colony  began  at  a  point  on  Red  River,  and 
extended  south  one  hundred  miles  to  a  point  near 
Waxahachie,  taking  all  of  Dallas  County,  except  a 
strip  3  miles  wide  on  the  east.  The  south  line  ex- 
tended west  one  hundred  and  sixty-four  miles. 
Thence  north  to  Red  River.  Thence  east  with  the 
meanderings  of  the  river  to  the  place  of  beginning. 
Peters  had  a  good  part  of  the  land  surveyed  in  sec- 
tions of  640  acres,  and  half  sections  of  320  acres. 
It  was  a  disputed  question  as  to  whether  Peters  and 
associates  had  fully  complied  with  their  contract  or 
not.  However,  the  settlers  were  dissatisfied  be- 
cause they  were  not  getting  the  same  quantity  of 
land  that  the  State  was  granting  other  settlers.  The 
State  made  a  compromise  with  Peters  and  associ- 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  157 

ates,  and  gave  them  seventeen  hundred  sections  of 
land  in  counties  further  west,  and  granted  to  set- 
tlers of  the  Colony  640  acres  to  families  and  320 
acres  to  single  men  over  seventeen  years  old. 

BIRTH   OF   DALLAS 

Late  in  November,  1841,  John  Neely  Bryan,  a 
Tennessean,  who  had  spent  some  time  in  the  settle- 
ments on  Red  River,  camped  alone  and  erected  a 
tent  on  the  banks  of  the  Trinity,  near  the  site  of  the 
court  house,  and  remained  alone  till  the  succeeding 
spring,  excepting  when  visited  by  persons  looking 
at  the  country.  In  the  spring  of  1842,  several  other 
families  having  in  the  meantime  arrived  at  Bird's 
Fort,  the  families  of  Capt.  Gilbert  first  and  next 
John  Beeman — the  former  in  canoes,  the  latter  in 
an  ox-wagon — abandoned  the  Fort  and  removed  to 
Dallas,  that  of  Beeman  to  remain  permanently,  but, 
after  two  or  three  years,  Gilbert  returned  to  Red 
River.  Mr.  Beeman,  with  his  brothers  and  their 
families,  had  come  to  Bowie  County,  Texas,  from 
Calhoun  County,  Illinois,  in  the  year  1840,  and 
thence  he  had  moved  out,  as  stated,  to  the  Fort. 
Later  in  1842,  James  J.  Beeman,  half  brother  of 
John,  and  family,  came  directly  from  Bowie  County 
to  Dallas.  A  few  others  came  during  that  year,  and 
a  few  single  men  and  prospectors  visited  the  place 
in  that  time.  Mr.  Bryan  finally  secured,  as  his  head- 
right,  640  acres  of  land  fronting  on  the  river,  long 
in  its  front,  where  a  part  of  Dallas  now  stands. 

Dallas  was  named  for  George  M.  Dallas,  Vice- 
President.  In  the  year  1844  James  K.  Polk  and 
George  M.  Dallas  were  candidates  for  President  and 
Vice-President  of  the  United  States  of  America,  and 
were  the  champions  of  the  pro-slavery  wing  of  the 
Democratic  party  and  favored  the  annexation  of 
Texas,  and  the  cry  went  up  during  the  entire  cam- 


158  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

paign  for  Polk  and  Dallas  and  the  annexation  of 
Texas.  They  were  elected  by  a  very  large  majority 
and  inaugurated  March  4th,  1845.  The  City  of 
Dallas  was  named  for  the  popular  Vice-President, 
George  M.  Dallas. 

MURDER  OF  CLEMENTS  AND  WHISTLER, 

CHRISTMAS  DAY,  1842— ESCAPE 

OF  THEIR  FAMILIES  AND 

MRS.  YOUNG 

A  portion  of  the  history  of  Collin  County,  in  its 
first  settlement,  is  so  closely  allied  to  that  of  Dallas 
that  I  condense  a  few  of  the  facts.  In  the  same 
month  that  John  Neely  Bryan  camped  at  Dallas 
(November,  1841),  Dr.  William  E.  Throckmorton, 
from  Fannin  County,  with  his  family,  settled  on 
Throckmorton  Creek,  near  the  present  town  of 
Melissa.  (Dr.  Throckmorton  was,  like  the  first  set- 
ler  of  Dallas,  a  Tennessean,  but  had  lived  in  Illinois 
and  Arkansas.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling  character, 
the  head  of  a  large  family,  of  whom  ex-Governor 
James  W.  Throckmorton  was  one.  Throckmorton 
County  was  named  for  the  father,  and  not  for  the 
son,  by  John  Henry  Brown,  of  Galveston,  and  Absa- 
lom Bishop,  of  Wise,  in  the  Legislature  of  1857-8.) 
In  January,  1842,  he  was  joined  by  Pleasant  Wil- 
son, Edmund  Dodd,  Wm.  R.  Garnett,  Garrett  Fitz- 
gerald and  Littleton  Rattan.  Soon  afterwards,  Benj. 
White,  his  son,  Archy,  and  Wm.  Pulliam  settled  in 
the  neighborhood  and  John  Kincaid  on  Hurricane 
Creek.  A  stockade  was  built  at  the  Throckmorton 
settlement.  Early  in  the  summer,  a  number  of 
families  and  single  men,  who  had  been  a  short  time 
at  Bird's  Fort,  abandoned  it  (as  Beeman  and  Gilbert 
had  done  in  March,  when  they  removed  to  Dallas) , 
and  moved  back  to  Throckmorton's  settlement.  They 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  159 

were  Henry  Helm  and  family, Walker  and 

family,  John  and  James  Wells, Bly, 

Doddy,  B.  C.  Thompson  and  Joshua  E.  Heath.  They 
built  cabins  in  the  stockade,  but  not  long  afterwards 
selected  and  settled  on  their  own  lands  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, excepting  Thompson,  who  died  soon  after 
his  arrival.     In  November,  1842,  Joseph  H.  Wilcox, 
David  Helms  and  Joseph  Harlan  began  a  settlement 
on  Wilson's  Creek,  but  were  broken  up  by  the  In- 
dians and  joined  Jack  McGarrah  in  making  a  settle- 
ment at  "Old"  Buckner,  the  first  county  seat.     Just 
before  this,  Wesley  Clements,   Samuel  Young  and 
Whistler,  all  with  families,  settled  on  Honey  Creek, 
and  erected  cabins.     A  few  days  before  Christmas 
(1842),  young  went  back  to  the  Inglish  settlement, 
in  Fannin,  for  provisions.     On  Christmas  Day,  Cle- 
ments and  Whistler  were  at  work  in  the  bottom  near 
their  cabins,  when,  early  in  the  forenoon,  they  were 
attacked  by  Indians,  and  Whistler  killed  on  the  spot. 
Clements  was  pursued  towards  the  house.    Hearing 
the  guns,  and  then  seeing  her  fleeing  husband,  Mrs. 
Clements,  gun  in  hand,  ran  to  meet  him ;  but  she  was 
too  late.     He  was  tomahawked  and  scalped  within 
forty  or  fifty  yards  of  the  house,  and   she  barely 
escaped  into  it  in  time,  with  the  aid  of  Mrs.  Young, 
to  bar  the  door,  present  her  gun  and  defy  the  In- 
dians.   This  she  successfully  did  and  they  disappear- 
ed.   In  the  meantime,  Mrs.  Whistler,  who  was  at  the 
branch,  near  the  creek,  heard  the  firing,  then  the 
screams  at  the  house,  and  next  the  Indians  pursuing 
the  hobbled  horse  of  her  husband,  which  had  on  a 
bell.    The  bell  was  coming  directly  towards  her.  The 
branch  was  full  from  back  water.     She  sprang  in 
among  driftwood,  under  the  bank,  keeping  only  her 
nose  above  water.    The  horse  was  caught  immediate- 
ly above  her.     After  everything  became    still,  be- 
lieving all  had  been  killed,  she  hurried  down  the 


160  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

creek,  through  brambles  and  briars,  to  find  the  road 
leading  back  to  Inglish's  settlement.  Her  clothing 
was  torn  into  rags,  and  her  person  sorely  torn  with 
thorns.  But  her  father  and  mother  had  been  slain 
by  these  demons,  on  the  Brazos,  some  years  before, 
and  horror  gave  her  both  strength  and  speed.  She 
finally  found  and  followed  the  road  to  East  Fork, 
which  was  too  deep  to  cross.  She  went  down,  found 
a  shallow  place,  crossed,  returned  to  the  road,  and 
when  she  reached  the  open  prairie,  she  was  virtually 
naked  and  covered  with  blood.  Seeing  two  men,  with 
a  wagon,  approaching,  she  deflected  from  the  road 
to  pass  them.  They  hailed  her,  but  she  hurried  on, 
exclaiming  that  the  Indians  had  killed  all  the  settle- 
ment. They  started  toward  her,  but  she  ran  so  fast 
that  they  concluded  she  was  deranged,  and  continued 
on  to  Honey  Creek,  and  encamped.  Very  soon  after- 
wards, Mrs.  Clements,  Mrs.  Young  and  their  chil- 
dren, after  a  flight  of  six  miles,  appeared  on  the 
opposite  bank.  The  creek  was  up.  The  men  felled 
a  tree,  crossed  them  over,  and  furnished  from  their 
scanty  stores  every  available  relief.  They  retreated 
as  fast  as  possible,  with  them,  to  the  settlement.  I 
regret  not  being  able  to  give  the  names  of  those  two 
true-hearted  pioneers.  Mrs.  Whistler  had  arrived 
in  a  deplorable  condition,  but  was  tenderly  cared  for 
by  as  warm  and  gentle  hands  as  ever  wrought  for 
progress  in  the  wilderness — for  of  such  were  the 
Inglish  family  and  their  associates.  A  party  volun- 
teered at  once  to  go  out  and  bury  the  dead.  This 
tragedy,  on  Christmas  Day,  1842,  was  the  first  anni- 
versary of  the  murder  of  Hamp  Rattan,  near  Carroll- 
ton,  in  Dallas  County.  It  was  the  third  anniversary 
of  Burleson's  victory  over  the  Cherokees  at  the 
mouth  of  the  San  Saba.  And  at  the  very  hour  at 
which  Whistler  and  Clements  were  killed,  and  dur- 
ing many  succeeding  hours,  three  hundred  Texas 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  161 

volunteers,  beleaguered  by  Ampudia  and  over  two 
thousand  Mexicans,  though  fated  to  a  cruel  cap- 
tivity, were  winning  imperishable  laurels  in  the 
Mexican  town  of  Mier.  It  was  also  in  the  womb  of 
the  future  that  a  brother  of  one  of  those  prisoners 
(one,  too,  who  drew  a  black  bean,  and  with  sixteen 
others  was  murderously  slain  March  25,  1843) 
should  be  killed  by  Indians  near  Presidio  del  Norte, 
on  Christmas  Day,  1849 — the  prisoner  being  young 
James  Torrey  and  the  other  lamented  David  Torrey ; 
their  brother  Thomas,  in  the  meantime,  and  equally 
lamented,  dying  on  the  treaty  grounds  at  Johnson's 
Station,  on  the  28th  of  September,  1843. 

KILLING  OF  DR.  CALDER,   OF  DALLAS, 
FEBRUARY,  1843 

In  February,  1843,  McGarrah,  Wilcox,  Helms, 
Harlan,  Blankenship  and  Rice  were  engaged  in 
building  at  the  former's  place,  afterwards  called 
Buckner,  and,  for  a  short  time  after  the  creation  of 
Collin  County  in  1846,  the  county  seat.  About  sun- 
rise one  morning  in  that  month,  Dr.  Calder,  who  had 
settled  near  Cedar  Springs,  in  Dallas  County,  ar- 
rived there,  riding  one  and  leading  another  horse, 
en  route  to  Inglish's.  Soon  after  leaving,  he  was 
seen  on  foot,  rushing  toward  the  house  and  pursued 
by  two  Indians.  The  men  at  the  house  hastened  to 
his  relief,  but  in  a  cluster  of  trees  he  was  slain  and 
scalped ;  and  at  the  same  time  the  relief  party  found 
themselves  confronted  by  about  sixty  Indians,  just 
risen  from  the  high  grass  and  very  near  them,  and 
were  greeted  by  a  shower  of  balls  and  arrows.  They 
retreated  into  the  unfinished  house  and  stood  on  the 
defensive,  using  the  cracks  as  port-holes.  The  chiefs 
angrily  urged  their  clansmen  to  charge  the  house, 
but  without  success.     It  then  became  evident  that 


162  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

Dr.  Calder  had  killed  one  of  their  number  with  one 
barrel  of  his  shot-gun,  which,  having  a  percussion 
lock,  then  a  new  invention,  was  of  no  service  to  the 
savages,  and  was  left,  with  one  barrel  still  loaded, 
where  the  doctor  fell.  The  numerous  dogs  on  the 
place  furiously  assailed  the  red  men,  and  all  but  one 
were  killed.  The  Indians  retired  during  the  day, 
when  the  body  of  the  doctor  was  carried  to  the  house, 
and,  a  little  after  dark,  the  whole  party  retreated 
towards  the  Throckmorton  settlement,  and  arrived 
soon  after  daylight.  Eleven  men  soon  returned  and 
conveyed  the  dead  body  to  that  settlement,  and  it 
was  interred  on  the  Throckmorton  place,  besides 
those  of  Clements  and  Whistler. 

MURDER  OF  JAMISON,   MUNCEY,  WIFE, 

CHILD,  TWO  SONS  AND  YOUNG 

RICE  IN  1844. 

In  1843,  after  the  murders  described,  but  few 
settlers  ventured  into  Collin.  McGarrah  returned 
to  his  place,  and  was  joined  by  his  son-in-law,  Jones, 
with  George  McGarrah,  Fala  Dunn  and  George 
Herndon.  In  1844,  among  others,  arrived  Jacob 
Baccus  and  sons  Godfrey  and  Peter  and  their  fami- 
lies; John  Fitzhugh  and  sons  Robert  and  William 
(afterwards  the  gallant  frontier  captain  and  Con- 
federate colonel,  who  married  Mary  Rattan  and  was 

accidentally  killed  ,  188 — ;)    Leonard 

Searcy  and  his  sons,  Gallatin,  Langdon,  Thrashly 
and  Thomas;  William  Rice;  Thomas  Rattan  (father 
of  John,  Littleton,  Hugh,  Edward,  and  of  the  subse- 
quent wives  of  Wm.  Fitzhugh,  A.  J.  Witt,  Jas.  W. 

Throckmorton, Moore,  Robert  Dowell,  Hogan 

Witt,  John  Kincaid,  and  other  children)  ;  John  Kauf- 
man; the  old  patriarch,  Collin  McKinney,  with  his 
sons,  William  and  Scott,  and  widowed  daughters, 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  163 

from  Red  River  County,  he  being  a  signer  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  in  1836;  William 
Creager,  the  Caldwells,  John  Hodge  and  others. 

In  the  fall  of  1844  a  man  named  Muncey,  with 
his  wife,  three  sons  aged  seventeen,  fifteen  and 
twelve,  a  child  aged  three  years  and  an  elderly  man 
named  Jamison,  settled  on  Rowlett's  Creek,  near  the 
line  of  Dallas  County.  They  built  and  lived  in  a 
board  camp  hut,  and  were  engaged  in  building  a  log 
house.  The  location  was  in  dense  timber.  Leonard 
Searcy  and  William  Rice,  each  with  a  son,  went 
down  into  that  vicinity  on  a  camp  hunt.  On  the 
first  morning  after  pitching  camp,  Mr.  Searcy  went 
in  search  of  Muncey's  camp  and  found  it,  but  stood 
aghast  at  the  scene  presented — Muncey  and  Jamison 
dead  and  untouched  by  mutilation  on  the  floor  of 
the  hut,  Mrs.  Muncey,  horribly  mutilated,  her  breasts 
cut  off,  her  blood  and  the  blood  of  her  assailants 
besmeared  over  everything  and  in  coagulated  pools, 
showing  that  after  the  stealthy  murder  of  the  men 
she  had  made  a  desperate  and  bloody  defense  with  a 
bowie  knife  in  the  hut ;  the  child  of  three  years  lying 
by  its  parents  with  its  head  mashed  into  a  shape- 
less mass.  The  horrible  affair  had  occurred  early  on 
the  morning  of  the  discovery.  At  that  time  the  Mun- 
cey boy  of  fifteen  had  gone  to  the  Throckmorton  set- 
tlement. The  boys  of  seventeen  and  twelve  were 
missing — had  been  carried  away  by  the  savage 
wretches — and  were  never  again  heard  from;  but 
subsequent  discoveries  rendered  it  quite  certain  that 
both  were  killed  on  the  retreat  by  their  captors. 

When  Mr.  Searcy  reported  these  discoveries  to 
Rice,  their  sons,  on  horseback,  had  gone  out  hunt- 
ing. The  alarmed  old  men  went  in  search  of  them, 
and  soon  came  upon  the  mutilated  body  of  young 
Rice.  They  mounted  it  on  a  horse  and  conveyed  it 
ten  miles  to  Wilson's  Creek,  where  they  found  young 


164  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

Searcy,  who,  seeing  Rice  killed,  had  escaped  by 
flight,  and  was  already  getting  aid  to  go  in  search  of 
the  two  fathers.  Adding  to  these  atrocities  the  burn- 
ing of  Thomas  J.  McDonald's  house  about  the  same 
time,  it  is  a  pleasurable  relief  to  say  that  they  con- 
stituted the  last  fatal  depredations  in  the  grand  and 
noble  county  of  Collin,  linked  with  Dallas  in  birth, 
in  tribulation  and  sacrifices  for  the  more  western 
frontier,  and  bound  to  her  by  hooks  of  steel  in  the 
memories — the  loss  of  fathers,  husbands,  sons  and 
brothers — the  glories  and  the  miseries  of  the  civil 
war.  As  Johathan  and  David  they  have  stood — 
confiding,  trusting,  loving — and  God  grant  that  so 
it  shall  ever  be. 

THE  GRAND  PRAIRIE  FIGHT  AND  PRES- 
TON WITT'S  TRIUMPH, 
NOV.  25,  1846. 

In  the  summer  of  1846  the  few  settlers  in  the 
upper  part  of  Dallas  County  met  at  the  house  of 
Preston  Witt,  on  White  Rock  Creek,  and  organized 
a  minute  company  for  mutual  protection  against  the 
Indians,  small  parties  of  whom  occasionaly  depre- 
dated upon  the  settlers.  The  organization  was  de- 
signed by  its  members  to  be  always  ready,  with 
horse,  ammunition  and  provisions,  to  hasten  pursuit 
and  chastisement.  Jesse  Mounts  was  elected  Cap- 
tain of  the  squad,  and  Josiah  Pancoast  orderly  ser- 
geant. 

In  the  month  of  November  of  the  same  year  a 
raiding  party  of  Indians  stole  horses  from  Samuel 
Chowning  and  others  on  Barksdale's  Creek,  near  the 
present  line  of  Dallas  and  Denton  Counties.  Run- 
ners were  dispatched  to  notify  the  members  of  the 
minute  company,  and  twenty-two  men  promptly  re- 
sponded, and  as  this  is  the  fortieth  anniversary  of 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  165 

the  fight  (this  being  written  on  Thanksgiving  Day, 
November  25th,  1886),  it  is  gratifying  to  give  all  of 
their  names.  Here  they  are:  Jesse  V.  Mounts, 
captain;  Josiah  Pancoast,  sergeant;  Preston  and 
Pleasant  Witt  (twin  brothers),  W.  Hamp  Witt,  Wm. 
Barnes,  Allen  Bledsoe,  James  Cates,  Thos. 
Chenowth,  A.  J.  Clark,  Robert  Chowning,  J.  W. 
Chowning,  Chas.  Dernay  (or  Demay),  Thomas 
Keenan,  Jack  Mounts,  James  Mathis,  Joshua  Mc- 
Cants,  James  Mooney,  John  Mitchell,  John  Noble, 
Alex.  W.  Perry,  Robert  Wilburn. 

The  Indian  trail  was  followed  by  these  volunteers 
across  the  Elm  Fork  of  the  Trinity,  the  upper  por- 
tion of  Grapevine  prairie,  through  the  lower  Cross 
Timbers  into  Grand  Prairie  and  southwesterly 
through  it  to  a  point  very  near  where  Decatur  stands, 
when,  about  noon  on  the  second  day,  several  Indians 
were  discovered  a  little  in  advance.  Capt.  Mounts 
ordered  a  charge,  which  was  promptly  made.  The 
Indians  fled  with  all  the  speed  they  could  command, 
and  were  hotly  pursued;  but  only  Preston  Witt  and 
William  Barnes  gained  on  them.  Both  selected  an 
Indian  supposed  to  be  a  chief,  and  when  Witt  was 
about  closing  the  gap  between  them,  the  savage 
furiously  sped  an  arrow  which  cut  his  suspenders 
asunder  and  slightly  lacerated  his  breast.  The  war- 
rior had  previously  cast  off  his  baggage,  and  now 
realized  that  he  or  his  fearless  pursuer  must  die. 
Escape  by  flight  being  impossible,  he  sprang  from 
his  horse,  and  Witt  did  the  same,  each  holding  his 
horse  as  a  shield.  Only  a  few  feet  separated  them, 
or  rather,  only  the  Indian's  horse.  No  time  was  to 
be  lost  by  the  red  man,  or  Witt's  friends  would  soon 
arrive.  He  rushed  under  his  horse's  neck  with 
drawn  knife,  directly  confronting  his  assailant ;  but 
Witt  seized  his  right  hand  with  his  own  left,  and 
with  his  right,  by  one  superhuman  thrust  with  his 


166  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

bowie  knife,  disemboweled  the  wild  man,  who  gave 
a  dismal  groan,  walked  a  few  paces,  and  fell  to  rise 
no  more.  Two  Indians  were  killed  and  one,  if  not 
both,  scalped.  One  or  two  others  were  wounded, 
but  escaped  by  the  fleetness  of  their  horses.  Witt 
took  from  his  fallen  foe  several  brass  bracelets  and 
other  trinkets,  which  are  yet  in  the  possession  of  his 
son  Edward.  Several  horses  were  recovered  and  re- 
turned to  their  owners.  The  affair,  considered  in  all 
its  bearings  and  the  condition  of  those  new  settlers 
in  the  country,  was  highly  creditable  to  all  con- 
cerned, exceedingly  gratifying  to  the  people,  and 
served  as  a  warning  to  small  parties  of  those  wild 
freebooters.  W.  Marion  Moon,  then  a  youth,  be- 
longed to  this  company,  but  was  sick  at  the  time. 
Elder  John  M.  Myers  and  others  of  those  few  early 
pioneers  also  belonged  to  it,  but  on  so  short  a  notice 
it  was  impracticable  for  more  to  go;  indeed,  it  was 
deemed  essential  for  some  to  remain  as  protectors  of 
the  families. 

THE  MURDER  OF  PHELPS  AND 
OTHERS  IN  1848 

The  Murder  of  Phelps  and  Others  in  1848. 
Josiah  S.  Phelps,  who  came  to  Dallas  in  1844  or 
1845,  was  a  surveyor.  In  March,  1846,  he  married 
Mrs.  Melissa  T.  Jacobs,  daughter  of  Alexander  M. 
Harwood  and  sister  of  Alexander  Harwood,  whose 
name  so  often  occurs  as  county  clerk.  In  the  begin- 
ning of  1848,  and  probably  as  early  as  1846  and 
1847,  Mr.  Phelps  was  employed  by  the  Peters'  Colony 
Company  to  survey  lands.  At  the  time  to  which  this 
narrative  relates  the  headquarters  of  the  colony  for 
surveying  purposes  were  at  a  village  called  Stewarts- 
ville,  in  Denton  County.  In  the  spring  Mr.  Phelps, 
with  only  two  men,  were  surveying  in  the  valley  of 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  167 

the  Main  or  so-called  West  Fork  of  the  Trinity. 
Their  camp  was  in  a  grove  on  a  mound,  since  bear- 
ing the  name  of  Phelps  Mound,  on  the  north  side  of 
the  stream,  four  and  a  half  miles  northwest  of  Fort 
Worth.  One  of  the  men  was  named  James  Wood, 
formerly  of  Indiana;  the  other  is  believed  to  have 
been  named  McCombs,  or  Combs,  but  there  is  some 
doubt  about  his  name. 

James  W.  Chowning,  yet  living  in  Denton  Coun- 
ty, was  sent  by  the  agents  at  Stewartsville  with  pro- 
visions in  a  two-horse  wagon  for  the  surveying 
party.  It  is  probable  he  had  left  the  party  for  this 
purpose;  but  of  this   I  am  not  advised,  nor  is  it 

material. 

On  reaching  the  camp,  Mr.  Chowning  was  horri- 
fied to  find  himself  alone  and  in  the  presence  of  three 
dead  men,  their  bodies  yet  scarcely  cold  and  lying  in 
the  tent,  where,  during  the  previous  night— April 
9th,  1849— and  while  asleep,  they  had  been  murdered 
by  Indians,  a  considerable  number  of  whom  were 
raiding  that  portion  of  the  country— so  much  so,  in 
connection  with  swollen  streams,  as  to  prevent  the 
Texas  Rangers,  then  at  different  stations  on  the 
frontier,  from  sending  a  party  in  time  to  bury  the 
unfortunate  victims.  A  few  persons  assembled  and 
performed  the  sad  office— among  them  Mr.  Conley 
and  Mr.  Thomas,  whose  widow,  Mrs.  Drusilla 
Thomas,  lives  in  Jacksboro.  They  were  buried  half 
a  mile  west  of  the  mound,  the  land  being  owned  by 
Mr.  Conley,  who  soon  afterwards  sold  it  to  Mr.  Far- 
mer, who  disposed  of  it  but  a  year  or  two  since. 

The  sadness  of  the  occasion  was  augmented  by 
the  fact  that  Mrs.  Phelps  had  died  only  about  three 
months  before,  leaving  an  infant  but  a  few  weeks 
old,  destined  to  grow  to  womanhood  without  father, 
mother,  brother  or  sister.  Yet,  in  her  warm  and 
noble-hearted   uncle,  Alexander  Harwood,   and  his 


168  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

estimable  wife,  married  at  a  later  day,  she  found 
protection,  care  and  tender  affection,  to  become  in 
1870  the  wife  of  Mr.  Henry  C.  Miller.  They  live 
near  Azle  P.  O.,  in  the  northwest  portion  of  Tarrant 
County.  "Dickey"  Phelps  grew  to  womanhood  in 
Dallas,  and  is  remembered  and  held  in  esteem  by  the 
older  citizens  as  a  bright  and  amiable  little  girl  and 
young  lady. 

TEXAS  IN  THE  EARLY  DAYS  SIXTY  YEARS 

AGO. 

In  the  early  days  of  Texas 

The  deer  and  buffalo 
In  herds  were  found  so  plenty, 

No  matter  where  we  would  go. 

The  wily  Indians  with  his  tomahawk 

Had  nothing  then  to  fear, 
And  he  lived  in  peace  and  plenty 

On  the  buffalo  and  deer. 

These  herds  and  flocks  they  did  inherit 
And  the  great  Father  gave  the  land ; 

But  the  advancing  step  did  echo 
Of  the  greedy  paleface  man. 

The  Indians  they  grew  desperate, 

And  painted  for  the  strife, 
With  their  trusty  bows  and  arrows 

And  a  wicked,  flashing  knife. 

They  swore  vengeance  on  the  white  man, 
As  their  sharpener  tomahawks  they  felt, 

And  said  the  scalps  of  many  a  paleface 
Should  dangle  from  their  belts. 

The  whites  took  possession  of  the  country, 
And  killed  the  deer  and  buffalo, 

And  looked  upon  the  Indian 
As  a  savage,  treacherous  foe. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  169 

During  forty  years  of  warfare, 

With  death  and  blood  and  strife 
There  has  many  a  scalp  been  taken 

By  the  savage  Indian  knife. 

There  were  many  tribes  to  conquer, 
And  they  had  many  ways  to  fight ; 

They  would  lie  in  ambush  in  the  day 

And  attack  in  the  dark  and  stormy  night. 

They  prowled  along  the  southern  coast, 

Both  winter,  fall  and  spring, 
Where  the  mosquitoes  with  their  merry  song 

Had  such  a  business  ring. 

Where  the  hideous  alligators  bellowed, 
And  the  owls  had  an  Indian  whoop, 

Near  the  slimy,  muddy  banks 
Of  the  sluggish  Guadaloupe. 

They  would  steal  upon  them  in  the  night, 
And  when  near  would  give  a  whoop, 

With  tomahawks  and  scalping  knives, 
Down  on  the  Guadaloupe. 

The  ferocious  savage,  ugly  Kronks* 

As  fierce  as  any  beast, 
And  every  white  man  they  could  catch 

They  would  celebrate  and  feast. 

The   Comanches   and  the  Wacos 
Further  north  and  west  were  found, 

Where  the  howling  wolves  and  rattlesnakes 
And  the  prairie  dogs  abound. 

And  the  tarantula  and  the  centipede 

And  the  little  horned  frog, 
That  would  make  a  fair  collection 

Without  the  prairie  dog. 


*They  were  cannibals. 


170  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

Oh,  the  horrors  here  in  Texas 
That  these  early  settlers  tell — 

It  will  cause  your  hair  to  stand  on  end, 
And  make  you  thing  of  h — . 

The  Comanches  once  declared  for  peace, 
And  the  council  house  was  filled, 

But  the  program  was  not  understood, 
And  every  chief  was  killed. 

The  Comanches  then  went  wild  again. 

And  laid  many  a  vicious  plan, 
And  stole  their  wives  and  children 

And  scalped  many  a  butchered  man. 

Oh!  the  awful  bloody  battles 
Between  the  white  and  red, 

The  wounded  and  the  scalped, 
And  the  dying  and  the  dead ! 

But  the  white  men  were  victorious, 
And  drove  the  Indians  from  the  land, 

Over  the  Western  wilderness 
And  across  the  Rio  Grande. 

The  privations  and  the  hardships 
Of  these  hardy,  fearless  men 

Can  never  be  described 
By  language,  word  or  pen. 


(The  following  verses  may    be    a    little    over- 
drawn.) 

The  hog  then  known  in  Texas 

Was  a  self-supporting  grazer, 
With  a  nose  as  long  as  a  walking  stick, 

And  a  back  just  like  a  razor. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  171 

And  the  cattle  were  very  slender, 

And  almost  as  slim  as  a  blacksnake  whip, 

With  horns  that  measured  seven  feet 
Across  from  tip  to  tip. 

The  Spanish  ponies  and  mustangs  were  as  wild  as 

any  deer, 
And  every  time  you  rode  one  he  would  get  up  on  his 

ear, 
And  jump  and  pitch  and  buck  and  ball, 
And  if  you  did  not  have  the    nerve,    my  boy,  you 

would  surely  catch  a  fall. 

I  cannot  now  describe  them — 

I  will  not  dare  begin  it, 
Hut  simply  say  in  passing 

They  could  run  a  mile  a  minute. 

And  in  drouthy  times  the  land  would  shrink, 

And  crack  to  beat  the  bang, 
And  the  cattle  would  fall  in  them 

And  there  by  the  horns  would  hang. 

The  ticks  were  there  by  millions — 

I  tell  the  very  truth. 
For  they  covered  up  the  cattle 

Just  like  shingles  on  a  roof. 

They  would  begin  to  suck  the  blood  of  life 
From  the  time  the  calves  were  born, 

And  their  bodies  had  no  chance  to  grow, 
And  the  calf  all  went  to  horn. 

And  in  Eastern  Texas  burning  sand 
When  the  children  went  to  school 

They  would  often  hop  upon  a  stump 
To  allow  their  feet  to  cool. 


172  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

It  was  there  the  live  mosquitoes 
Their  merry  songs  would  sing, 

And  the  fleas  would  dance  to  music 
That  had  a  business  ring. 

These  troubles  now  have  passed  and  gone, 
And  are  told  in  song  and  story, 

And  the  noble  Indian  once  so  bad 
We  hope  has  gone  to  glory. 

— Geo.  Jackson. 


TEXAS  AT  THE  PRESENT  TIME. 

Texas  now  is  a  delightful  place, 

And  is  forging  to  the  front, 
And  there  are  modern  towns  and  cities 

Where  once  we  used  to  hunt. 

And  our  cattle  are  of  the  very  best 
That  is  exhibited  at  the  show, 

And  nearly  always  take  the  premium 
Everywhere  they  go. 

And  the  hogs  are  of  the  very  best 
That  are  brought  upon  the  ground, 

And  will  weigh  from  seven  hundred 
Up  to  a  thousand  pounds. 

And  our  horses,  too,  are  very  fine, 
And  we  have  the  best  of  every  breed— 

The  Norman  and  the  Suffolk, 
Down  to  the  Arab  steed. 

We  have  free  and  universal  education 
For  the  rich  and  all  the  poor, 

And  everything  that's  needed 
Is  delivered  at  our  door. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  173 

And  when  the  weather  is  growing  warm 

We  use  the  electric  fan, 
And  we  all  enjoy  the  comfort 

Of  this  artificial  plan. 

We  ride  in  electric  carriages, 

In  company  and  alone, 
And  talk  with  people  miles  away 

Over   the   telephone. 

Our  women  are  modest,  fair  and  beautiful, 
And  all  like  ladies,  dressing  neat, 

And  are  equal  to  the  queens  of  old 
When  seen  upon  the  street. 

And  our  country  is  rich  and  beautiful, 

Although  it  was  abhorred, 
It  is  like  a  flowery  kingdom 

Or  the  garden  of  the  Lord. 

It  has  grown  to  a  mighty  nation, 

After  going  through  the  rub, 
And  we  have  many  commercial  cities, 

And  our  Dallas  is  the  Hub. 

— Geo.  Jackson. 


FROM  JOHN  HENRY  BROWN'S  HISTORY 
OF  DALLAS  COUNTY 

By  the  kindness  and  permission  of  Miss  Lizzie 
C.  and  Marion  Taylor  Brown,  daughters  of  the  late 
John  Henry  Brown,  I  have  gotten  the  names  of  many 
of  the  officers  of  Dallas  County  from  the  beginning 
up  to  the  year  1887  from  John  Henry  Brown's  His- 
tory of  the  County,  and  also  the  account  of  the  Grand 
Prairie  fight  and  the  murder  of  Clements  and  Whist- 
ler and  families,  and  Dr.  Calder,  of  Dallas,  and  many 
others.  I  later  became  acquainted  with  nearly  all 
of  the  men  that  were  in  the  Grand  Prairie  fight. 


174  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

They  were  our  neighbors,  and  it  has  not  been  a 
great  many  years  ago  since  I  saw  the  scalp  that 
Capt.  Witt  took  of  his  Indian. 


ORGANIZATION  OF  DALLAS  COUNTY 

The  First  Legislature  of  the  State,  on  the  20th 
of  March,  1846,  passed  an  Act  creating  the  County 
of  Dallas.  Said  county  being  thirty  miles  square 
or  900  square  miles.  A  further  Act,  approved  April 
18th,  1846,  provided  that  until  otherwise  provided 
by  law  that  the  town  of  Dallas  shall  be  the  seat  of 
justice  of  Dallas  County,  and  all  the  courts  for  said 
county  shall  be  held  thereat.  Act.  of  '64,  p.  93. 
A  third  Act,  approved  May  12th,  1846,  appointed 
John  Neely  Bryan  to  appoint  managers  and  order 
an  election  for  organizing  Dallas  County,  the  elec- 
tion to  be  held  according  to  existing  law,  the  returns 
to  be  made  to  Bryan,  who  should  issue  certificates 
to  all  persons  elected  and  make  returns  thereof  to 
the  Secretary  of  State.    Act  of  '46,  p.  242. 

An  Act  of  the  Second  Legislature,  approved 
March  20th,  1848,  provided  for  an  election  for  the 
permanent  location  of  the  County  Seat,  requiring  a 
majority  of  all  the  votes  cast  to  elect,  and  should 
donations  of  land  be  offered  and  accepted,  William 
Jenkins,  J.  J.  Beeman,  William  H.  Hord,  Micajah 
Goodwin  and  R.  J.  West  were  appointed  commission- 
ers to  lay  out  the  ground  and  sell  lots.  The  Act  of 
'48  failed  to  settle  the  question,  and  on  the  11th  of 
January,  '50,  a  somewhat  similar  Act  was  passed, 
an  election  to  be  held  at  the  general  election,  August, 
1850,  and  at  this  election  for  County  Seat  the  vote 
stood : 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  175 

For  Dallas 191  votes 

Hord's  Ridge,  near  Oak  Cliff 178  votes 

Cedar   Springs 101  votes 

Total 470  votes 

Under  the  last  election,  on  the  31st  of  the  same 
month,  the  result  was  : 

For  Dallas 244  votes 

Hord's   Ridge 216  votes 

Total 460  votes 

A  majority  for  Dallas  of  28  votes. 

PETERS'  COLONY 

The  year  1841  was  ushered  in  by  an  act  of  the 
government  of  Texas  to  encourage  the  settlement  of 
this  wilderness.  On  the  4th  of  February  the  Texas 
Congress  passed  "An  Act  granting  land  to  immi- 
grants," in  which  a  grant  was  made  "to  Joseph  Car- 
roll, Henry  J.  Peters  and  others,  their  associates, 
therein  named,  for  the  introduction  and  settlement 
of  immigrants,"  and  authorizing  the  President  to 
enter  into  contract  with  said  parties  and  designate 
the  territory  into  which  they  should  introduce  set- 
tlers, etc.  The  contract  was  executed  by  President 
Houston  and  Samuel  Browning,  attorney  for  the 
company — thereafter  commonly  known  as  the  Pet- 
ers' Colony  Company — on  the  30th  of  August,  1841. 
It  was  modified  November  20th,  1841,  and  again, 
through  Horace  Burnham,  attorney  of  the  company, 
July  26th,  1842. 

This  enterprise,  first  discussed  in  1840,  the  head- 
quarters of  the  projectors  being  in  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky, is  what  drew  attention  to  this  unoccupied  wil- 
derness and  led  to  its  settlement,  beginning,  as  al- 
ready stated,  with  John  Neely  Bryan  in  November, 


176  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

1841.  The  colony  covered  a  large  district  lying  on 
the  south  side  of  Red  River  and  extending  south,  so 
as  to  include  a  large  portion  of  Ellis.  The  east  line, 
beginning  at  the  mouth  of  Big  Mineral  Creek,  on 
Reel  River  and  in  Grayson  County,  ran  about  ten 
miles  east  of  Dallas,  so  that  all  of  Dallas  County,  ex- 
cepting a  strip  about  three  miles  wide,  on  the  east 
side,  was  embraced  in  the  colony.  Though  there  were 
subsequently  acrimonious  contentions  between  the 
contractors,  who  sought  to  claim  a  portion  of  each 
settler's  land,  and  the  colonists — involving  matters 
of  great  interest  then,  but  without  interest  now — 
the  matter  was  finally  adjusted  by  laws  of  the  State, 
under  which  each  head  of  a  family  received  six  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  land  and  each  single  man 
half  the  quantity. 

The  company  widely  advertised  the  enterprise, 
describing  the  country  and  its  many  natural  ad- 
vantages, and  this  drew  an  excellent  population  from 
the  Southern  and  Western  States,  more  especially 
from  Kentucky,  Illinois,  Missouri  and  Tennessee, 
who  diffused  themselves  over  the  large  territory,  the 
limits  now  embraced  in  Dallas  County  receiving  its 
full  share. 

Prior  to  this  many  surveys  had  been  made  in 
this  county  by  surveyors  from  Nacogdoches,  to 
which  all  of  Dallas  County,  east  of  the  Trinity,  be- 
longed till  1846 — while  west  of  the  river,  till  the 
same  time,  belonged  to  the  county  of  Robertson. 
Hence,  from  1842  to  1846  the  settler  in  Dallas,  on 
the  east,  had  to  attend  court  in  Nacogdoches,  about 
200  miles  distant,  while  his  neighbor,  a  mile  distant, 
over  in  the  then  unchristened  and  undreamed  of 
suburb  of  Oak  Cliff,  had  to  do  jury  duty  and  answer 
for  his  errors,  if  any,  at  the  now  extinct,  but  then 
important,  village  of  Old  Franklin,  150  miles  on  the 
way  to  Houston.    Say  not  that  men  with  wives  and 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  177 

children,  but  without  intelligence,  courage  and  as- 
pirations for  improving  their  condition,  would  have 
assumed  the  hazards,  the  hardships  and  sore  trials 
through  which  alone  success,  peace,  plenty  and  hap- 
piness, could  be  attained !  The  gray-haired  survivors 
of  those  stout-hearted  pioneers— the  middle-aged 
children  of  both  the  dead  and  the  living,  and  the 
grandchildren  of  all— have  just  and  rational  cause 
to  felicitate  themselves  in  manly  and  womanly  pride 
at  the  record  made  and  the  achievements  won. 

The  actual  settlement  of  Dallas  County,  there- 
fore, began  in  the  spring  of  1842,  when  the  first 
cabin  was  erected  and  the  families  of  John  Beeman 
and  Capt.  Gilbert  being  the  first  to    arrive    (Mrs 
Martha  Gilbert  being  the  first  American  lady)   and 
relieve  the  loneliness  of  the  adventuorous  and  true- 
hearted  avaunt  courier,  John  Neely  Bryan,  who  had, 
for  five  or  six  months,  been  "monarch  of  all  he  sur- 
veyed"—provided,  he  neither  surveyed  red  men  of 
the  forest  nor  the  raging  Trinity  on  one  of  its  pe- 
riodic "spreads."  He  entertained  them  with  the  best 
he  had— chiefly  "bear  meat  and  honey"— perhaps 
without  recalling  the  adage  about  "entertaining  an- 
gels unawares,"  yet  it  was  verified  in  this  case,  for, 
ere  a  great  while,  the  lonely  son  of  Tennessee  gave 
his  heart  and  hand  to  a  comely  and  pure-hearted 
daughter  of  Illinois,  in  the  person  of  Margaret,  a 
daughter  of  Mr.  John  Beeman,  the  same  estimable 
lady  yet  surviving  her  faithful  husband  and,  until 
recently,  daily  beholding  the  mighty  contrast— Dal- 
las in  its  primeval  state  in  1842,  and  Dallas  in  1908. 

WHEN  I  GOT  THE  GOLD  FEVER 

In  1859  and  '60  the  gold  fever  broke  out  in  Colo- 
rado, and  spread  to  other  States.  It  was  very  con- 
tagious. Texas  did  not  escape,  and  in  the  fall  of  '60 
I  had  symptoms  of  fever,  and  before  the  winter  had 


178  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

passed  it  developed  into  a  bad  case,  and  my  parents 
were  somewhat  alarmed,  and  when  I  told  them  that 
there  was  no  cure  for  it  except  a  change  of  climate, 
they  seemed  to  be  very  much  troubled  when  I  told 
them  I  had  fully  decided  to  go  to  Pike's  Peak.  Three 
other  boys  in  the  neighborhood  had  took  the  same 
raging  fever,  Dave  and  Tom  Houstes  and  Lyman 
Drake,  and  we  all  decided  to  try  our  fortunes  in  the 
gold  fields  of  Colorado.  I  had  reached  my  majority 
and  was  possessed  with  the  spirit  of  adventure.  [ 
knew  that  Texas  was  a  very  large  State,  but  I  de- 
cided it  was  too  small  to  hold  me.  We  soon  rounded 
up  a  fine  bunch  of  cattle,  and  each  one  of  us  had  a 
wagon  and  ox  team,  and  by  the  time  the  wild  flowers 
were  blossoming  on  the  prairie  we  were  ready  for 
the  trip.  Fort  Leavenworth  or  Leavenworth  City, 
only  about  600  miles  distant  from  Dallas  County, 
was  the  nearest  and  best  point  for  us  to  buy  our 
supplies  and  mining  tools.  I  bade  farewell  to  my 
father  and  mother,  brothers  and  sisters,  and  friends, 
and  all  that  were  near  and  dear  to  me  by  the  ties  of 
nature,  and  made  the  start  for  Pike's  Peak  and  the 
far  West,  and  as  we  crossed  the  border  into  the  In- 
dian country  and  left  old  Texas  behind,  our  hearts 
were  light,  and  our  hopes  for  the  future  were  bright. 
We  did  not  even  dream  of  the  trouble  ahead  and  in 
the  near  future.  The  war  clouds  were  gathering. 
The  Southern  States  had  seceded.  Texas  was  in  the 
Secession  Column.  But  we  believed  that  the  North 
would  never  attempt  to  coerce  the  South.  We  thought 
the  hot  blood  of  the  South,  with  their  dash  and  cour- 
age, would  be  too  much  for  the  timid  Yankee.  We 
moved  slowly  along  with  our  herd  of  cattle,  crossed 
brooks  and  swimming  the  large  streams.  Our  cattle 
would  stampede  occasionally,  and  one  night  I  was  on 
herd  the  latter  part  of  the  night,  and  it  had  been 
raining.     I  rode  quietly  around  the  cattle,  and  the 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  181 

whole  herd  had  become  very  quiet.     Nearly  all  of 
them  were  lying  down. 

I  was  riding  a  young  horse,  and  I  had  taken  with 
me  my  gum  coat  or  slicker,  as  we  called  it,  and  it 
was  hung  to  the  horn  of  my  saddle.    I  could  see  the 
gray  streaks  of  dawn  in  the  east,  and  I  had  become 
very  tired  sitting  on  my  horse,  and  thought  there 
would  be  no  danger  in  getting  off,  and  I  did  alight, 
and  was  walking  around  holding  to  the  bridle  rein, 
when  all  at  once  in  one  second  every  brute  was  on 
his  feet  and  in  a  mad  rush,  running  right  toward 
me.     I  made  a  jump  for  the  horse,  but  missed  the 
stirrup  and  landed  on  my  stomach  in  the  saddle. 
By  that  time  the  cattle  were  all  around  me,  and  the 
horse  running  like  mad,  and  as  soon  as  I  landed  in 
the  saddle  on  my  stomach  the  horse  began  to  buck, 
and  I  thought  my  time  had  come.    I  tried  to  stick  for 
dear  life,  but  about  the  third  or  fourth  pitch  he 
threw  me  so  high  I  turned    a    somersault    and  lit 
on  my  feet,  and  I  know  how  it  was,  but  I  had  that 
slicker  in  my  hands,  and  I  waved  it  up  and  down  in 
a  frantic  manner,  knowing  that  my  life  depended 
on  it,  and  I  could  feel  the  hot  breath  of  the  cattle  as 
they  passed  me.     Saying  "Baw,  baw,  baw,"  I  suc- 
ceeded in  splitting  that  herd  of  640  head  of  cattle 
wide  open,  and  made  my  escape  without  a  scratch 
or  a  bruise. 

We  moved  slowly  along  with  our  herd  and  teams, 
nothing  very  strange  taking  place.  We  passed 
through  a  beautiful  country,  sometimes  passing 
along  a  range  of  sun-kissed  hills,  skirted  with  beau- 
tiful groves  of  trees  and  rich  valleys  of  land  that 
stretched  away  a  great  distance,  with  clear  streams 
of  water  runnig  through  them.  I  suppose  it  was 
just  the  same  as  God  and  nature  left  it  after  the 
creation,  and  never  had  been  inhabited  only  by  the 
roving  Red  man  of  the  forest.    We  passed  through 


182  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

the  Cherokee  National,  and  found  some  improve- 
ments there,  and  one  evening,  just  after  we  camped, 
several  men  rode  into  our  camp.  They  were  talking 
loud,  and  seemed  to  be  excited.  One  of  them,  that 
seemed  to  be  the  principal  spokesman,  said  that  war 
had  been  declared  and  Lincoln  had  ordered  out  75,- 
000  troops,  and  they  were  now  marching  south. 
He  said  his  property  was  all  niggers,  and  he  was 
going  to  enlist  in  the  army  at  once,  and  expected  to 
fight  the  Yankees  to  a  finish,  and  he  thought  every 
true  Southern  man  should  shoulder  his  musket  and 

go  and  meet  the  enemy  and  give  them .    We 

agreed  with  him,  and  said  that  was  just  the  thing  to 
do,  but  we  had  started  to  the  gold  mines,  and  we  had 
"Pike's  Peak  or  bust"  inscribed  on  our  wagon  sheets, 
and  could  not  possibly  turn  back  now.  The  men  left 
us,  and  they  seemed  to  be  very  anxious  to  get  to  the 
front.     They  were  actually  spoiling  for  a  fight. 

We  moved  along  day  after  day,  and  at  last  reach- 
ed the  border  of  bleeding  Kansas,  and  the  people 
there  seemed  to  be  spoiling  for  a  fight  about  as  bad 
as  the  men  we  left  in  the  Cherokee  National,  and 
when  we  reached  Fort  Leavenworth  and  Leaven- 
worth City,  all  was  excitement.  We  could  see  squads 
of  infantry  drilling  in  every  direction,  and  companies 
of  cavalry  dashing  about,  and  blood  and  war  seemed 
to  be  in  the  air.  Most  of  the  Southern  States  had 
seceded  before  we  left  home.  Texas  was  in  the  Seces- 
sion Column,  and  we  did  not  think  any  attempt 
would  ever  be  made  to  force  her  back  into  the  Union 
again.  We  sold  our  cattle,  all  but  the  teams,  bought 
our  supplies,  loaded  our  wagons  and  headed  for 
Pike's  Peak  and  the  far  West.  If  I  had  remained  in 
Texas  I  should  have  joined  the  Southern  army  with- 
out any  hesitation  whatever. 

But  this  trip  put  me  to  thinking.  I  read  the 
Northern  papers,  and  I  studied  about  the  institution 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  183 

of  slavery,  and  I  would  ask  myself  the  question,  is 
it  right?  I  had  been  taught  to  believe  that  God  ap- 
proved it  and  the  Bible  upheld  it,  and  that  it  was 
a  divine  instituion.  But  the  more  I  thought  about 
it  the  more  skeptical  I  became,  and  before  the  end 
of  the  first  year  of  the  war  I  was  of  the  opinion  the 
Confederacy  and  the  institution  of  slavery  was  doom- 
ed. But  I  could  not  think  of  going  into  the  Northern 
army.  My  friends  were  in  the  South,  the  people  I 
loved.  My  brothers  were  in  the  Southern  army,  and 
I  did  not  have  the  heart  to  take  up  arms  against 

them. 

We  were  several  weeks  crossing  the  plains,  but 
we  finally  reached  Denver,  a  town  of  twelve  or  fifteen 
hundred  people.  It  was  a  wide  open  town,  gambling 
halls  on  the  lower  floors  and  cappers  in  the  streets 
trying  to  rope  in  the  suckers.  I  visited  one  large 
gambling  hall.  Bands  of  music  were  playing,  and 
there  were  tables  all  around  and  over  the  hall,  with 
piles  of  gold  and  silver,  and  various  different  games 
that  men  could  take  a  part  in.  I  was  told  before  I 
left  home  to  never  bet  on  another  man's  game,  and 
I  had  decided  not  to  try  to  make  my  fortune  that 
way.  We  did  not  stay  in  Denver  long,  only  a  few 
days,  and  then  moved  on  to  Central  City,  in  the 
mountains,  and  when  we  reached  that  point  we 
found  more  war  excitement  than  gold  fever. 

I  tried  mining  for  a  short  time,  but  soon  tired  of 
it.  I  took  the  goods  we  hauled  out  for  supplies  and 
started  a  grocery  store  and  added  a  bakery  to  it, 
and  made  a  little  money  that  way.  The  excitement 
continued  and  a  part  of  the  building  that  I  occupied 
was  used  for  a  recruiting  office,  and  a  brass  band 
and  a  big  bass  drum  was  playing  most  of  the  time. 
This  recruiting  was  for  the  Federal  army,  but  there 
were  a  great  many  Southern  people  there,  and  there 
was  some  recruiting  for  the  Southern  army,  but  they 


184  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

were  not  quite  so  bold.  One  company  was  raised  for 
the  South  and  the  officers  elected.  A  man  by  the 
name  of  McGee,  that  lived  in  Parker  County,  Texas, 
was  elected  Captain,  and  a  man  by  the  name  of  Tuck- 
er was  elected  First  Lieutenant,  and  Mr.  B.  M.  Hen- 
derson, ex-sheriff  of  Dallas  County,  was  elected  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant.  I  roomed  with  Henderson,  and  I 
knew  his  family  in  Texas  before  I  left  for  Colorado. 
He  was  a  hot  secesh,  and  talked  too  much.  A  num- 
ber of  those  fellows  had  very  long  knives,  nearly  two 
feet  long,  with  a  hole  bored  through  the  handle,  and 
a  strong  twine  string  tied  to  it,  and  they  would  prac- 
tice with  those  knives  and  boast  how  they  would 
carve  Yankees  with  them.  They  would  throw  them 
quite  a  distance  and  then  pull  them  back  with  the 
twine  string.  The  company  had  a  meeting  place  near 
Denver,  and  a  camp,  and  the  night  before  they  were 
to  start  south  in  the  morning,  the  officers  went  into 
the  city,  and  they  were  all  arrested.  McGee  and 
Tucker  were  put  in  jail.  Henderson  was  so  violent 
and  talked  so  much  the  guard  took  him  to  the  Piatt 
River  and  ducked  him.  It  was  in  November,  and  the 
water  was  very  cold.  They  put  him  under  guard  in 
his  wet  clothes,  he  tried  to  make  his  escape  and  was 
shot  and  killed.  When  this  news  reached  the  com- 
pany they  were  at  a  loss  what  to  do.  Most  of  them 
scattered,  all  of  them  but  thirty-two.  That  number 
started  South,  and  when  they  got  out  on  the  Santa 
Fe  trail  they  held  up  a  train  and  robbed  it.  The  Fed- 
erals soon  got  word  of  it  and  went  after  them  and 
caught  them  napping,  and  the  day  I  reached  Denver 
bound  for  the  States  they  were  marched  through 
the  streets  with  handcuffs  on  them.  I  was  thinking 
at  one  time  of  joining  the  company  and  coming 
through  to  Texas,  and  I  knew  all  their  plans,  but  I 
finally  decided  to  remain  in  the  mountains,  and  I 
told  them  I  could  not  arrange  my  business  in  time. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  185 

I  heard  afterwards  that  McGee  and  Tucker  were 
released,  but  they  kept  them  in  jail  quite  a  long 
time.  I  thought  afterwards  I  was  very  fortunate  in 
not  joining  them. 

We  crossed  the  plains  on  our  return  with  mule 
teams.     Nothing  very  strange  occurred.     One  inci- 
dent I  will  mention.     One  morning  a  lot  of  fellows 
came  chasing  a  buffalo  passing  the  camp,  and  the 
animal  seemed  to  be  gaining  on  them,  and  they  gave 
up  the  chase.    One  of  our  boys  grabbed  his  rifle  and 
jumped  on  his  horse  and  dashed  after  it  full  speed, 
and  soon  overtook  the  buffalo,  and  began  snapping . 
his  rifle  at  him,  but  it  would  not  go  off.    Failing  m 
that,  he  drew  his  pistol  and  began  shooting,  and 
finally  killed  him,  and  we  had  buffalo  meat  a-plenty. 
Shortly  after  that  he  examined  his  rifle  and  found  it 
was  not  loaded.    We  reached  Leavenworth  City  and 
remained  there  a  few  days,  and  from  there  we  start- 
ed South. 

The  weather  was  bitter  cold,  the  ground  covered 
with  snow  and  sleet.    We  reached  Southern  Kansas 
and  camped  in  the  Marmaton  bottoms  for  the  win- 
ter.   We  would  go  to  Fort  Scott  occasionally  and  get 
the  war  news.     We  read  the  papers  and  kept  up 
with  the  movement  of  the  army,  and  when  winter 
broke  and  the  spring  came  we  decided  to  go  back  to 
the  mountains  and  let  them  fight  it  out.    We  again 
went  to  Leavenworth  City,  and  while  there  my  mules 
were  stolen.     I  spent  considerable  money  and  some 
valuable  time  trying  to  find  them,  but  I  never  saw 
them  again,  and  I  was  getting  short  of  money,  and  I 
hired  to  the  government  and  was  sent  with  a  lot  of 
other  men  out  into  Missouri,  where  the  Government 
had  a  large  herd  of  mules,  and  we  had  to  catch  those 
mules  (manv  of  them  that  had  never  been  worked) , 
and  harness"  them  and  hitch  them  up  to  the  wagons, 
six  mules  to  each  wagon,  and  we  certainly  had  a  gay 


186  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

time.  We  went  to  the  little  town  of  Rolla,  Missouri, 
to  get  our  mules  shod.  There  were  some  large  Gov- 
ernment shops  there.  It  was  a  rainy  day,  and  when 
we  reached  that  place  I  was  rather  wet,  and  was 
sitting  near  one  of  the  forges  drying  my  clothes, 
when  a  dirty-looking  Irishman  stepped  up  close  to 
me,  and  I  carelessly  remarked  to  him,  "Old  fellow, 
you  have  been  hunting  for  something  on  the  ground, 
haven't  you?"    He  said,  "Yes,  I  have,  and  d — n  you, 

I  have  found  you  and  I  can  whip out  of  you," 

and  he  cursed  me  and  shook  his  fist  in  my  face  and 
called  me  a  coward.  I  tried  to  apologize  for  what 
I  had  said,  and  told  him  I  meant  no  offense,  but  it 
made  him  worse.  I  saw  he  was  drinking,  but  I  did 
not  want  to  run  from  him,  and  I  picked  up  an  iron 
poker  and  told  him  to  leave  or  I  would  hurt  him.  He 
was  very  quick  in  grabbing  the  poker.  I  held  the 
one  end  of  the  poker  with  my  right  hand,  and  he  held 
the  other.  I  am  left-handed,  and  I  drew  back  and 
struck  from  the  shoulder  with  all  my  might,  and  I 
floored  him,  and  he  bled  like  a  beef.  He  and  the 
poker  all  went  together.  While  he  was  down  I 
snatched  the  poker  from  him,  and  I  threw  it  aside, 
thinking  he  had  enough  of  it;  but,  bless  you,  he  got 
up  and  came  right  for  me.  I  squared  myself  and 
let  him  have  it  again,  and  I  laid  him  out  the  second 
time.  I  had  practiced  boxing  for  several  months, 
but  was  not  conceited.  I  knew  I  had  no  chance  with 
the  heavy-weights. 

The  crowd  by  this  time  had  gathered  around  us 
and  was  all  anxious  to  see  the  fight.  The  Irishman 
was  on  his  feet  again,  and  a  squabby  Dutchman  that 
was  in  my  mess  stepped  in  front  of  me  and  said  he 
would  take  that  fight  off  my  hands.  The  Irishman 
went  for  him  and  struck  him  in  the  face  the  first 
blow,  and  then  they  clinched  and  bit  and  gouged  and 
pounded  one  another,  and  we  pulled  them  apart,  and 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  187 

the  Irishman  walked  off.  We  thought  it  was  all  over, 
and  the  boys  were  laughing  over  the  fun.  But  in 
about  fifteen  minutes  he  returned  with  five  or  six 
strapping  big  fellows  and  without  any  ceremony 
they  pitched  into  our  crowd,  and  such  a  mix-up  and 
free  fight  I  have  never  sene  before  or  since.  Some- 
times two  were  on  one,  and  scrap  iron  was  flying  in 
every  direction,  and  every  few  minutes  one  would  be 
laid  out.  The  fight  reached  such  alarming  propor- 
tions the  soldiers  were  sent  for,  and  they  soon  put 
a  quietus  on  it.  There  were  about  twenty  of  our 
crowd,  and  only  six  or  seven  of  the  others.  I  thought 
if  there  had  been  two  or  three  more  Irishmen  we 
would  have  had  to  sound  a  retreat.  But  as  it  was 
we  thought  we  had  got  the  best  of  it,  and  we  went 
into  camp  to  rest  on  our  laurels,  and  bandage  our 
black  eyes,  and  bathe  our  bruised  limbs.  My  fierce 
blows  put  one  of  my  thumbs  out  of  place,  and  it 
pained  me  so  I  could  not  sleep  for  several  nights. 
This  great  fight  was  all  brought  about  by  my  ill 
advised  remark,  and  I  will  say  I  have  been  very 
guarded  ever  since  in  my  remarks,  especially  in  the 
presence  of  strangers  and  half-drunk  people.  I  did 
not  like  to  work  for  Uncle  Sam,  and  I  soon  returned 
to  Leavenworth  City,  bought  a  team  and  a  reaping 
machine  and  went  to  Southern  Kansas  and  helped 
the  farmers  harvest  their  wheat  and  oats,  and  then 
went  into  the  hay  fields. 

I  made  myself  as  useful  and  agreeable  as  pos- 
sible. The  people  I  made  my  home  with  were  full- 
blooded  Yankees,  and  very  good  people,  and  the  old 
lady  had  been  as  kind  to  me  as  a  mother.  Her  mar- 
ried daughter  and  husband  had  separated,  and  the 
daughter  died,  leaving  a  little  babe  a  few  months 
old,  and  her  dying  request  was  that  her  mother 
should  raise  it  and  care  for  it,  which  the  mother 
agreed  to  do.    But  shortly  after  her  death  the  hus- 


188  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

band  took  the  babe  from  her  and  gave  it  to  a  neigh- 
bor woman  about  two  miles  distance,  and  the  old 
lady  grieved  over  it  a  great  deal,  and  one  day  I  came 
in  from  the  hay  field  and  she  asked  me  if  I  would 
take  her  to  see  the  baby.  I  told  her  that  I  would  be 
glad  to  do  so,  but  one  of  my  horses  was  out  in  the 
hay  field,  but  I  would  get  him  and  take  her  down 
there,  and  went  to  get  my  horse,  and  never  dreamed 
of  any  trouble.  During  my  absence  one  of  the  neigh- 
bors came  along  in  his  wagon,  and  she  asked  if  he 
would  take  her  down  to  see  the  baby,  and  he  did, 
and  when  they  came  to  the  house  she  got  out  of  the 
wagon  and  went  in,  and  no  one  was  in  the  house  but 
the  baby  lying  in  the  cradle.  She  picked  the  baby 
up  and  started  off  with  him.  Mr.  Allen,  the  owner 
of  the  team,  thought  she  had  the  consent  of  the  wom- 
an to  take  it,  and  took  them  home,  and  when  the 
father  of  the  baby  heard  of  it  he  was  wild,  and  the 
first  thing  he  did  was  to  shoot  Allen  dead  in  his  own 
house  and  then  came  to  the  house  where  his  babe 
was,  declaring  he  would  kill  every  man  there.  I 
had  not  yet  returned  with  my  horse,  and  when  I 
heard  of  it  I  thought  I  had  made  a  narrow  escape. 
Raids  were  frequently  made  into  Kansas,  and  the 
Kansas  people  would  make  raids  into  Missouri  and 
burn  the  houses  and  kill  every  man  they  could  catch 
that  could  not  give  a  satisfactory  explanation  as  to 
who  he  was.  I  was  in  Lawrence,  Kansas,  just  before 
Quantrell  made  his  famous  raid  and  killed  eighty-one 
men.  One  woman  was  shot  through  the  arm  in  hold- 
ing to  her  husband  and  trying  to  protect  him.  I  was 
in  the  town  shortly  after  the  killing,  and  saw  where 
the  blood  had  run  over  the  floors,  where  men  had 
been  killed.  After  the  haying  season  was  over  [ 
made  a  trip  to  Fort  Smith  with  a  load  of  Suttler's 
goods.  There  was  a  very  long  train  of  Government 
wagons,  several  hundred,  and    it    took    from    two 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  189 

o'clock  in  the  evening  until  after  night  for  all  of 
them  to  get  into  camp.  The  advance  guard  would 
catch  a  few  men  occasionally.  They  called  them 
bushwhackers  and  would  stand  them  up  in  line  and 
shoot  them  down  and  let  them  lie.  Some  of  them 
we  saw  on  our  return  trip.  They  were  black  and 
rotting  in  the  same  place  they  were  shot  down. 

The  Government  did  not  furnish  any  escort  for 
us  on  our  return  trip.  We  waited  about  two  weeks 
in  Fort  Smith.  The  winter  was  very  cold.  Many 
crossed  over  the  Arkansas  River  with  their  teams 
on  the  ice,  and  we,  with  the  Suttler  wagon  outfit, 
about  a  hundred  wagons,  decided  to  make  the  trip 
alone,  and  on  the  second  day  after  leaving  Fort 
Smith  I  had  a  severe  attack  of  pneumnoia,  and  could 
not  drive  my  team  any  further.  I  secured  a  driver, 
and  I  was  laid  in  the  wagon  on  some  old  quilts.  My 
side  pained  me  so  I  held  myself  up  on  my  elbow  and 
spit  blood  for  two  days,  until  I  became  so  weak  I 
gave  it  up,  and  when  the  horses  would  trot  over  the 
rocks  and  rough  road  all  I  could  do  was  to  lie  as  still 
as  I  could  and  take  things  as  they  came.  At  night 
the  campers  would  make  a  good  fire  and  scrape  away 
the  snow,  and  carry  me  out  and  sit  me  in  an  old  chair 
they  had  and  throw  a  quilt  over  me,  and  all  the  med- 
icine they  had  was  black  pepper  and  patent  pills,  and 
they  blistered  me  inside  with  the  pills  and  outside 
with  the  pepper,  and  ever  since  that  experience  I 
can  never  think  of  pepper  and  pills  without  a  shud- 
der. 

The  night  after  the  fourth  day  they  left  me  at 
the  Osage  Catholic  Mission  and  sent  forty  miles  for  a 
doctor,  and  he  came.  They  expected  me  to  die,  but  I 
did  not.  Those  Catholics,  with  the  help  of  the  doc- 
tor, nursed  me  back  to  life,  and  ever  since  then  I 
have  had  a  warm  place  in  my  heart  for  these  good 
Catholic  nurses. 


190  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

The  winter  of  '63  passed,  and  the  old  gentleman 
that  I  made  my  home  with  while  in  Southern  Kansas 
was  taken  sick.  His  name  was  Sherburne,  and  was 
known  as  Uncle  Ben.  He  was  one  of  the  most  re- 
spected citizens  of  that  community.  He  lingered 
about  eight  or  ten  days,  and  then  died.  I  stayed  by 
his  bedside  most  of  the  time,  until  death  claimed  him. 
But  before  he  died  he  told  me  that  I  had  been  re- 
ported to  the  Union  League  as  a  Copperhead  and  a 
dangerous  man,  and  the  League  had  been  discussing 
the  question  as  to  what  disposition  to  make  of  me, 
and  had  sent  for  him,  and  he  had  told  them  that  he 
was  not  worth  a  great  deal,  only  a  little  farm  and 
some  few  stock,  and  he  had  offered  to  go  my  security 
to  the  amount  he  was  worth  that  I  would  do  them 
no  harm.  I  found  out  that  an  old  rascal  that  I  had 
disappointed  in  some  way  about  cutting  his  hay  had 
reported  me. 

The  spring  of  '64  came,  and  I  was  figuring  with 
some  other  parties  about  a  government  hay  contract, 
and  we  put  in  a  bid  for  a  large  amount  of  hay  to  be 
delivered  to  Fort  Scott,  and  we  secured  the  contract, 
amounting  to  the  sum  of  $53,000,  and  we  got  a  good 
start  in  the  delivery  of  the  hay.  We  drew  $14,000. 
There  were  a  number  of  other  contracts  let,  and  hay 
was  delivered  in  Fort  Scott  faster  than  they  could 
take  care  of  it,  and  we  began  stacking  it  right  on  the 
ground  where  we  cut  it,  and  had  a  large  amount 
stacked.  But  my  plans  and  calculations  were  defeat- 
ed. The  news  came  that  General  Price  was  making 
a  raid  through  Missouri  and  sweeping  everything 
before  him.  Every  able-bodied  man  in  Kansas  was 
enrolled  in  what  was  called  the  enrolled  militia,  and 
all  work  ceased,  and  everybody  was  called  to  take  up 
arms,  and  report  at  Fort  Scott.  I  reluctantly  obeyed 
the  command,  and  we  were  formed  into  companies 
and  regiments,  and  about  the  time  we  were  ready 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  191 

to  take  up  the  line  of  march,  Col.  Knowls  came  to  me 
and  said  he  had  been  detailed  to  guard  Marmaton,  a 
small  town  seven  miles  west  of  Fort  Scott.  My  home 
was  near  that  little  place.  He  said  he  had  not 
sufficient  men,  and  he  asked  me  to  stay  at  home  and 
help  to  guard  the  place,  and  said  he  would  make  it 
all  right  with  the  general  in  command.  I  thought 
favorably  of  it  at  first,  but  on  second  thought  I  de- 
cided differently,  and  told  the  Colonel  I  would  go 
with  the  big  crowd,  and  I  put  spurs  to  my  horse 
and  soon  overtook  the  company.  I  never  saw  the 
Colonel  after  that.  He  and  his  men  were  all  killed, 
and  the  town  burned,  only  a  few  days  later,  and  my 
life  was  spared  again.  My  intended  wife  lived  near 
the  little  town,  and  she  said  they  could  hear  the 
shrieks  of  the  women  and  the  groans  of  the  dying,  as 
the  columns  of  smoke  ascended  and  the  consuming 
flames  destroyed  their  little  town. 

We  went  to  Kansas  City  and  the  militia  was 
gathered  there  and  near  there  in  very  large  numbers. 
General  Price's  army  was  advancing  from  the  east. 
The  Federals  had  met  them  from  Jefferson  City  and 
St.  Louis,  and  were  disputing  their  right  of  way,  and 
the  Southern  army  headed  for  the  West  and  Kansas, 
and  the  Kansas  militia  met  them  east  of  Kansas  City 
and  disputed  their  right  of  way  into  Kansas,  and 
several  skirmishes  took  place.  I  was  in  the  front 
at  the  battle  of  Westport,  with  the  artillery  in  the 
rear  on  the  hill  in  a  commanding  position,  shelling 
the  woods  in  front  and  firing  over  our  heads.  We 
entered  the  woods  and  skirmished  around,  and  then 
advanced  up  the  hill,  and  when  we  reached  the  top 
of  the  hill  the  Southern  soldiers  fired  on  us,  and  the 
bullets  flew  around  pretty  thick.  The  Southern  sol- 
diers were  behind  a  stone  wall.  A  retreat  was  order- 
ed, and  we  tumbled  down  over  the  hill  to  get  under 
shelter,  and  when  we  got  in  line  again  we  were  order- 


192  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

ed  to  advance  on  double  quick  and  dislodge  the  enemy 
behind  the  stone  wall,  and  I  must  confess  we  did  not 
like  to  undertake  the  scaling  of  that  wall.  But  we 
did  make  the  charge,  and  it  looked,  like  we  were 
facing  death.  But  when  we  got  started  we  ran  as 
fast  as  we  could,  every  man  yelling  as  loud  as  he 
could.  But  before  we  reached  the  wall  the  artillery 
had  swung  around  to  the  left  in  a  commanding  posi- 
tion and  swept  the  wall  and  scattered  the  Southern 
troops,  and  when  we  scaled  the  wall  we  only  found  a 
few  dead  and  dying  soldiers. 

We  had  then  been  nearly  two  days  without  any- 
thing to  eat,  and  Price's  army  was  on  the  run.  Our 
commissary  wagons  were  ordered  to  drive  up  to  the 
front,  and  our  horses  were  brought  forward,  and 
when  the  wagons  came  scores  of  men  were  detailed 
to  make  up  dough  and  hand  it  out  in  wads  to  the 
soldiers,  and  an  army  of  men  would  advance  on  a 
string  of  fence,  about  four  to  a  panel,  and  the  whole 
line  of  fence  would  move  off  at  once.  There  were 
large  fields  of  shocked  corn,  and  we  could  see  about 
five  or  six  men  to  a  shock,  and  the  fence  and  con- 
tents of  the  field  seemed  to  all  move  off  at  once.  The 
first  wad  of  dough  that  I  got  I  rolled  it  out  and  twist- 
ed it  around  my  ramrod  and  held  it  over  the  fire  a 
few  minutes  and  warmed  it  a  little,  and  it  seemed  to 
be  very  good  eating. 

I  will  say  the  little  war  experience  that  I  had  I 
did  not  shoot  a  gun.  I  was  not  mad,  and  I  did  not 
want  to  fight.  A  few  of  our  men  were  killed  and 
wounded.  The  lieutenant  of  our  company  was  shot 
while  near  me.  Price's  raid  was  a  great  damage  to 
me.  They  ruined  my  plans,  stopped  my  hands  from 
work,  and  burned  all  the  hay  I  had  stacked. 

I  married  in  the  winter  of  1864,  and  moved  to 
Leavenworth  City,  and  managed  to  make  a  living  by 
speculating  and  freighting,  and  in  the  spring  of  '65, 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  193 

as  soon  after  the  surrender  as  possible,  I  arranged 
my  business  and  got  things  in  shape  to  move  to  Tex- 
as.   I  went  to  Fort  Scott  and  there  met  Mr.  Lyman 
Drake,  one  of  the  men  that  came  with   me  from 
Texas,  and  he  said  he  would  go  with  me.     He  was 
worth  considerable  money.     He  had  two  teams  and 
wagons.     He  bought  goods  and  loaded  his  wagons. 
I  had  one  wagon  and  team  and  a  horse  and  buggy. 
We  were  warned  not  to  go.    It  was  considered  very 
dangerous,  too  dangerous  to   even   think   of   going 
through  the  Indian  Territory.    The  Southern  Chero- 
kees  had  not  been  disbanded,  and  were  not  allowed 
to  come  back  to  their  old  homes,  and  General  Stan- 
watie  still   in   command  had  camped   on  the   Blue 
River,  about  twenty  miles  north  of  Red  River.  I  tried 
to  raise  a  company  in  Fort  Scott  to  come  with  us  to 
Texas.     I  succeeded   in  raising    fifteen    men    that 
agreed  to  come  with  us  and  stand  by  us.     All  ar- 
rangements were  made,  and  we  made  a  start  for 
Texas  again,  after  a  period  of  four  years  and  several 
months. 

All  of  my  men  came  into  camp  the  first  night  but 
two.  I  knew  nothing  of  the  history  of  these  men. 
I  think  most  of  them  were  renegades.  After  we  had 
been  in  camp  a  short  time  four  men  rode  into  the 
camp  heavily  armed,  and  said  they  were  after  horse 
thieves,  and  I  think  they  suspected  some  of  our 
crowd.  They  went  on  and  overtook  a  man  on  foot, 
and  they  seemed  to  suspicion  him  that  he  knew  some- 
thing. There  was  not  a  house  for  a  hundred  miles 
the  way  he  was  going.  They  brought  him  to  our 
outfit  and  told  him  to  remain  with  us,  and  the  four 
men  returned  to  Fort  Scott,  thinking  they  were  on  a 
cold  trail.  These  men  separated  on  their  return  to 
Fort  Scott,  and  two  of  them  met  the  horse  thieves 
and  their  horses  and  were  afraid  to  try  to  take  them, 
but  went  on  to  Fort  Scott  and  reported  and  they  all 


194  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

returned  and  made  another  run  after  them.     The 
horse  thieves  rode  into  our  camp  the  second  night, 
and  camped  that  night  with  us.    It  was  my  two  men 
that  failed  to  come  into  camp  the  first  night,  but  I  did 
not  know  they  had  the  stolen  horses;  and  the  next 
day  we  stopped  for  dinner  at  Baxter  Springs,  and 
these  men  went  to  water  their  horses,  and  some  of 
my  men  told  me  they  were  the  stolen  horses,  and 
said  for  us  all  to  be  ready  with  our  guns  and  when 
they  came  back  we  would  take  them.    But  they  never 
came,  but  were  gone  in  a  hard  run,  and  we  never 
saw  them  afterwards.    I  did  not  suspicion  the  other 
men  at  that  time,  but  afterwards  I  found  out  they 
were  just  making  a  grand-stand  play  and  knew  all 
about  it.    The  young  man  they  arrested,  left  in  our 
camp,  was  still  with  us.    I  think  he  was  a  discharged 
soldier,  and  had  drawn  his  pay  and  had  money.    The 
following  morning  before  we  left  camp,  the  party 
overtook  us  again  in  pursuit  of  the  horse  thieves.  We 
gave  them  what  information  we   could,   and  they 
went  on  in  pursuit.    The  young  man  slept  under  my 
wagon  that  night.     He  had  told  us  his  name  was 
Tucker.    I  was  carrying  his  coat  and  the  few  things 
he  had  in  my  wagon.    But  we  never  saw  him  after. 
Before  we  reached  Fort  Smith  seven  of  our  men 
turned  back,   and  after  we  reached  Texas  one  of 
them  wrote  me  that  they  found  Tucker's  body  about 
two  hundred  yards  from  the  place  we  camped,  and 
the  supposition  was  that  the  men  that  were  on  guard 
that  night  got  him  out  and  murdered  him  for  his 
money.    We  had  traitors  and  murderers  in  camp,  and 
enemies  without. 

After  the  seven  men  turned  back  we  knew  we 
were  in  great  danger.  I  bought  four  bushels  of  corn 
in  Fort  Smith,  and  gave  $16.00  for  it,  and  our  little 
squad  took  up  the  line  of  march  again.  The  second 
day  four  men  overtook  us.     They  were  riding  good 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  195 

horses  and  were  well  dressed.  They  were  all  rather 
dark  looking,  and  wore  their  hair  long.  They  had  a 
good  deal  of  jewelry  on  their  hats  and  clothing.  They 
passed  us,  and  one  of  the  boys  said,  "We  will  have 
to  look  out,  they  are  regular  bushwhackers."  From 
that  time  on  we  kept  close  together,  and  of  a  night  we 
would  run  our  wagons  and  my  buggy  as  near  to- 
gether as  possible,  and  stand  guard  in  the  most  shel- 
tered place,  and  in  the  day  time  we  would  carry  our 
guns  and  six-shooters  and  were  always  ready  to  give 
the  best  we  had  if  attacked.  We  traveled  that  way 
for  days,  and  these  men  would  pass  and  repass  us 
until  we  got  down  near  where  Stanwatie's  command 
was  camped,  and  there  other  men  would  occasionally 
pass  us.  I  kept  cautioning  our  men  to  keep  close 
together  and  be  ready.  I  kept  my  shot  gun  across 
my  lap  in  the  buggy.  My  wife  was  used  to  just  such 
times  in  Southwest  Missouri. 

After  noon  one  day,  as  we  were  leaving  camp, 
something  was  forgotten,  and  the  wagons  stopped  a 
few  minutes.  Two  of  our  men  that  were  horseback 
rode  on  and  got  a  few  hundred  yards  ahead  of  the 
wagon,  when  we  heard  shooting,  and  one  of  them 
came  dashing  back  and  said  Lacey  was  shot  de"ad. 
We  went  on  and  found  him  lying  dead  in  the  road. 
He  had  been  shot  through  the  heart. 

By  this  time  there  were  a  good  many  men,  some 
Indians  and  some  soldiers,  riding  about.  We  were 
near  a  house,  and  there  was  a  graveyard  in  an  old 
field  near,  and  the  man  that  lived  at  the  house  said 
we  could  bury  our  man  there  if  we  wanted  to.  We 
quietly  dug  his  grave  with  a  vault  to  it,  and  buried 
Lacy  with  nis  clothes  on.  Not  a  hymn  was  sung,  nor 
prayer  offered.  We  quietly  and  silently  laid  him 
away.  Several  of  Stanwatie's  men  were  present, 
and  I  noticed  one  of  them  kept  looking  at  me,  and  he 
called  me  aside  and  said  he  would  like  to  talk  to  me. 


196  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

He  first  asked  me  my  name,  and  I  told  him  that  it 
was  Jackson.  Then  he  inquired  of  me  if  I  had  a 
brother  in  the  army  in  the  Territory  during  the  war. 
I  said  I  did  have  several  of  them,  one  was  a  captain. 
He  said  that  he  knew  him  if  it  was  Captain  William 
Jackson.  I  said  yes,  that  was  his  name.  He  said  he 
had  been  looking  at  me  and  saw  such  a  striking  re- 
semblance that  he  almost  knew  he  was  my  brother. 
Well,  he  says :  "Have  you  seen  four  men,  long-haired 
fellows,  following  you?"  and  I  replied  that  we  cer- 
tainly had,  and  if  they  don't  look  out  we  will  get 
them  yet.  We  had  held  a  council  the  day  before  to 
consider  whether  we  should  shoot  them  on  sight,  but 
we  decided  we  had  better  not.  The  man  talking  to  me 
said  his  name  was  Evans,  and  he  said  that  these 
four  men  had  followed  us  from  near  Fort  Smith  and 
their  intention  was  to  kill  us  and  take  what  we  had. 
I  wanted  to  know  how  he  had  made  that  discovery, 
and  he  told  me  he  had  been  in  the  same  business 
with  them  during  the  war,  and  they  had  come  to  his 
house  last  night  to  get  him  and  another  man  to  go 
in  with  them,  and  that  night  they  were  to  attack 
us.  "They  represented  to  me,"  he  said,  "that  you 
had  lots  of  greenbacks,  but  said  they  did  not  want 
to  divide  it  between  too  many,  and  thought  seven 
of  them  would  be  enough ;"  and  he  also  said  that  he 
had  agreed  to  meet  them  at  a  certain  place  and  make 
preparations  to  bring  on  the  attack.  He  said  that 
he  would  go  and  meet  them  as  agreed,  and  make 
some  excuse  to  get  out  of  it.  He  would  tell  them 
that  the  war  was  over  and  that  he  had  decided  to 
quit  the  business.  He  bade  me  good-bye,  and  cau- 
tioned me  not  to  say  a  word  about  betraying  them, 
if  I  did  they  would  certainly  kill  him.  He  left  me, 
and  we  decided  not  to  go  to  the  place  we  expected 
to  camp,  but  selected  a  place  near  the  house  I  spoke 
of,  where  there  were  some  very  large  oak  trees,  and 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  197 

we  saw  that  our  guns  and  pistols  were  loaded  and 
ready  to  meet  them  if  they  made  the  attack.  Each 
one  of  us  got  behind  a  tree  and  my  wife  and  another 
lady  that  was  in  the  company  were  to  stay  in  the 
house. 

Just  as  it  was  getting  dark  Evans  rode  up  to  the 
camp  and  called  for  Jackson.  I  was  not  certain 
whether  he  was  friend  or  foe,  but  I  came  out  from 
behind  my  tree  with  six-shooter  in  my  hand  and 
advanced  towards  him.  He  said  to  me,  "I  was  late 
and  did  not  meet  the  boys,  but  I  think  they  are  com- 
ing. I  saw  two  of  them  between  me  and  the  sky  as 
they  rode  over  the  hill.  Look  out.  I  don't  think 
they  will  try  to  get  anything  but  your  horses  to- 
night, the  way  you  are  fixed."  He  says,  "Good 
night,  and  for  God's  sake  don't  say  a  word  or  they 
will  kill  me." 

He  had  ridden  about  one  hundred  yards,  and  I 
heard  a  man  say  halt,  and  then  a  shot,  and  then 

another  shot.     Then  I  heard  one  say,  " him, 

shoot  him  again."  The  horses  were  running,  and 
we  did  not  know  whether  he  was  killed  or  not.  That 
night  we  stood  behind  our  trees  all  night,  ready  to 
give  them  a  warm  reception  if  they  attacked  us. 
But  they  did  not  come. 

In  the  morning  my  friend  Evans  came  into  our 
camp.  He  was  shot  through  his  boot  heel  and  an- 
other shot  tore  the  skirt  of  his  coat,  and  he  said  he 
had  acted  the  coward  in  running,  but  them  fellows 
had  better  not  brag  about  it  or  he  would  kill  one  of 
them  yet.  There  was  a  young  man  at  this  Indian 
house  that  said  he  was  from  Illinois,  and  he  told  me 
that  there  was  a  home  guard  in  the  neighborhood 
that  had  been  appointed  to  look  after  the  horse 
thieves  and  lawless  characters,  and  if  I  would  notify 
them  they  would  protect  us.  I  offered  him  five  dol- 
lars if  he  would  go  and  notify  them,  and  he  went 


198  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

in  the  night  and  notified  all  of  them,  and  about  9 
or  10  o'clock  the  next  day  they  came  into  our  camp. 
But  they  said  the  line  of  their  territory  was  only  a 
few  miles,  and  they  could  not  go  to  the  Texas  line 
without  pay.  I  offered  them  fifty  dollars  to  go  with 
us  and  see  us  over  Red  River,  and  they  agreed  to  it, 
and  we  took  up  the  line  of  march  again,  and  when 
we  got  in  a  few  miles  of  Red  River  we  saw  our 
bushwhacking  friends,  and  three  other  men  with 
them.  They  intended  to  attack  us  before  we  got  into 
Texas,  and  had  selected  a  suitable  place,  not  know- 
ing we  had  employed  a  guard.  We  had  seventeen 
men  heavily  armed,  and  we  would  have  given  them 
the  best  we  had  in  our  shop  if  they  had  attacked 
us.  Our  guard  crossed  over  the  river  with  us,  and 
camped  with  us  that  night  in  Texas,  and  in  the 
morning  they  left  us,  and  we  went  on  our  way  re- 
joicing. 

I  will  go  back  to  the  first  of  our  journey.  We  met 
some  Federal  soldiers,  and  they  had  been  ordered 
to  burn  their  blankets,  and  a  man  by  the  name  of 
King,  a  Texas  man,  had  bought  twenty-one  blankets 
for  50  cents  apiece  and  tied  them  in  a  bundle  and 
hid  them,  and  when  he  met  our  wagons  he  said  he 
would  give  me  $5.00  if  I  would  haul  them  to  Fori 
Gibson.  I  did  so,  and  he  paid  me.  It  was  at  night 
he  gave  me  the  money,  and  he  gave  me  two  $5.00 
bills  stuck  together,  and  I  did  not  notice  it  until  the 
next  day.  He  said  his  family  lived  near  the  road 
not  far  from  where  Denison  now  stands,  and  he  said 
it  would  be  a  great  favor  to  him  if  I  would  stop  and 
tell  his  wife  that  he  was  well  and  hoped  to  be  dis- 
charged soon,  and  they  might  expect  him  home  any 
time.  As  I  had  $5.00  of  his  money  I  thought  I  would 
call  and  see  his  wife  and  give  it  to  her.  My  wife 
and  I  drove  up  to  the  house,  and  several  women 
came  out,  and  I  inquired  for  Mrs.  King,  and  she  was 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  1" 

one  of  the  number,  and  her  mother  was  there  a  very 
oM  lady,  and  they  were  very  much  interested  and 
anxious  to  hear  from  Mr.  King,  and  seemed  to  be 
almost  overjoved,  and  when  I  told  them  about  the 
bluets  and  gave  them  the  $5.00  the  old  lady  began 
tshou,  audit  seemed  like  a  regular  camp-meeting 
was  taking  place.  She  said,  "Thank  the  Lord.  I 
had  thought  every  man  had  got  dishonest.  But  thank 
the  Lord  again,  there  is  one  left,"  and  we  drove  olt 
leaving  them  all  happy. 

We  began  to  feel  like  we  were  safe  I  have  al 
ways  felt  safe  in  Texas,  and  will  say  I  love  Texas, 
Ind  a  man  that  is  once  a  Texan  is  always  a  Texa, 
and  when  we  crossed  the  border  into .old  Texas 
felt  like  I  was  in  the  warm  embrace  of  a  mother  s 
love  Her  outstretched  arms  were  ready  to  receive 
me.'  I  love  her  broad  prairies  and  rich  valleys,  and 

balmy  breezes.  r,at},pl. 

We  arrived  safely  at  home,  and  found  Fathei 
and  Mother,  brothers  and  sisters,  all  well.     We  all 
had  gone  through  the  bloody  conflict   and  met  again 
at  the  old  homestead,  and  talked  about  the  awful 
war,  the  bloody  scenes,  and  the    almost    inhuman 
cruelties;  and  when  I  look  back  over  my  experience 
I  believe  a  kind  Providence  and  the  favor  of  God 
kept  me  from  harm,  and  as  I  grow  older  and  look 
back  over  my  past  life,  and  think  of :  the  countries ,  I 
have  visited,  the  people  I  have  mixed  with,  the  mul- 
titudes I  have  seen,  I  think  of  man's  mhumam  y 
man.    I  believe  that  men  and  women  in  this  lite  aie 
cast  between  two  great  currents.     They -must  take 
one  of  the  other.     The  one  is  Self,  Self,  Self    and 
wrong.    The  other  is  right  and  God ;  and  the  almost 
countless  millions  of  God-forgetting  people  are  be- 
ing swept  along  the  current  of  self  and  wrong.  But 
I  thank  God  that  there  are  stations  and  stopping 
places  along  the  shores  of  this  sweeping  current, 


200  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

where  men  and  women  may  stop  and  think  and  call 
to  God  for  help,  and  all  of  those  that  call  in  earnest, 
He  will  come  to  their  rescue  and  deliver  them  from 
that  awful  current  that  seems  to  be  sweeping  them 
on,  they  know  not  where.  He  will  inspire  them 
with  better  thoughts,  higher  motives,  nobler  desires, 
and  loftier  purposes.  He  will  transform  and  change 
that  human  heart,  and  fill  it  with  love,  tenderness 
and  compassion,  and  they  will  have  an  inner  knowl- 
edge that  needs  no  other  proof  that  God  exists,  and 
is  guiding  and  leading  them  onward  and  upward  to 
glory  and  Heaven. 

It  has  been  forty-three  years  ago  since  the  war 
closed.  The  question  was  so  great  and  the  interest 
so  vast,  and  the  temper  of  the  people  so  wrought 
upon,  in  my  judgment  nothing  but  war  could  settle 
it,  and  I  believe  the  war  was  fought  at  the  right 
time,  and  fought  by  the  right  people,  and  now  the 
blue  and  the  grey  meet  and  mingle  together,  and 
place  flowers  on  the  graves  of  their  friends  that  died 
defending  the  cause  they  thought  to  be  right.  This 
is  just  as  it  should  be,  and  no  Confederate  feels 
humiliated  or  disgraced  because  of  losing  in  the  con- 
flict, but  the  blue  and  the  grey  stand  together — 
those  that  followed  Lee  and  Jackson,  and  those  that 
followed  Grant  and  Logan — citizens  of  the  greatest 
country  on  the  globe.  It  was  the  valor  and  courage 
and  bravery  of  those  that  followed  Lee  and  Jackson 
that  made  heroes  out  of  Grant  and  Logan,  and  the 
brave  men  that  stood  with  them.  They  met  men 
worthy  of  their  steel.  The  unconquerable  courage  of 
the  Confederate  soldier  made  the  glory  of  the  Fed- 
eral generals.  Most  of  the  old  veterans  have  passed 
over  the  river,  and  are  now  resting  in  God's  eternal 
camping  ground ;  but  those  that  are  still  with  us  are 
citizens  of  a  great  country. 

We  are  to-day  the  superior  of  the  earth,  with  our 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  201 

free  institutions,  our  great  free  school  system,  our 
numerous   colleges,   and   our   great   institutions   of 
learning,  our  hospitals,  deaf  and  dumb  and  blind 
asylums,  and  all  the  instituions  we  have  to  care  for 
the  afflicted  and  unfortunate.  Every  man  should  con- 
sider it  an  honor  to  be  an  American  citzien.    It  was 
said  in  ancient  times  when  Rome  was  the  mistress 
of  the  world,  that  it  was  considered  a  great  honor  to 
be  a  free-born  Roman  citizen.    But  I  consider  today 
that  it  is  a  much  greater  honor  to  be  a  free-born 
American  citizen.    If  we  show  that  love  and  patriot- 
ism to  the  flag  of  our  country  that  it  deserves— if  the 
humble  and  the  poor  are  given  an  equal  chance  in 
the  race  of  life,  with  the  strong  and  the  wealthy— we 
shall  command  respect  at  home  and  abroad,  and  no 
nation  on  the  globe  will  invade  our  shores  to  harm 
us,  and  no  enemy  will  ever  insult  our  flag.  The  great 
speaker  and  statesman,  Henry  Grady,  at  the  Dallas 
Fair,  in  his  celebrated  speech,  said:     "The  Anglo- 
Saxon  blood  has  dominated  always  and  everywhere. 
It  fed  Alfred's  veins  when  he  wrote  the  Charter  of 
English  liberty.     It  gathered  about  Hampden  as  he 
stood  beneath  the  oak.     It  thundered  in  Cromwell's 
veins  as  he  fought  the  king.    It  humbled  Napoleon  at 
Waterloo.     It  has  touched  the    desert    and    jungle 
with   undying  glory.     It  carried   the   drumbeat  of 
England  around  the  world,  and  spread  on  every  con- 
tinent the  gospel  of  liberty  and  of  God.     It  estab- 
lished this  Republic,  carved  it  from  the  wilderness, 
conquered  it  from  the  Indians,  wrested  it  from  Eng- 
land, at  last  stilling  its  own  tumult,  consecrated  for 
ever  as  the  home  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  and  the  theatre 
of  his  transcending  achievements.     Never  can  one 
foot  of  it  be  surrendered  while  that  blood  lives  in 
American  veins  and  feeds  American  hearts,  to  the 
domination  of  an  alien  and  inferior  race." 

The  great  preacher,  Dr.  Talmage,  said  in  a  speech 


202  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

after  he  returned  from  his  tour  through  Europe  he 
first  had  a  good  word  to  say  about  all  the  different 
nationalities  that  he  had  visited,  and  he  traveled 
through  most  of  the  European  countries.  He  said 
here  in  this  United  States  we  have  the  sound  sense 
of  the  English,  the  stout  heart  of  the  German,  the 
sterling  worth  and  honesty  of  the  Scotch,  the  polish- 
ed manner  of  the  French,  and  the  artistic  taste  of  the 
Italian,  and  last,  but  not  least,  the  lightning  wit  of 
the  Irish.  We  have  all  of  these  different  national- 
ities woven  together,  and  when  that  man  stepped 
out  upon  the  virgin  soil  all  heaven  and  earth  is  ready 
to  exclaim,  Behold,  the  man.    He  is  an  American. 

We  now  have  a  government  of  80,000,000  of  peo- 
ple— such  people  as  described  by  the  late  Dr.  Tal- 
mage,  that  has  opened  the  eyes  and  aroused  all  of 
Europe  from  their  slumber.  We  lead  in  all  kinds 
of  inventions  and  improved  machinery,  and  the  skill 
that  is  shown,  and  the  rapidity  of  great  undertak- 
ings that  has  been  carried  to  a  final  success.  Our 
great  achievements  have  been  the  wonder  of  the 
world.  Shall  we  think  lightly  of  our  citizenship? 
No.  We  of  the  South  will  consider  it  a  greater  honor 
than  the  Romans  of  old.  And  the  true  American 
that  is  entitled  to  wear  that  badge  of  honor  should 
wear  it  wtih  pride,  and  defend  it  with  his  life  if 
necessary. 

Our  country  is  larger  than  any  State.  It  is  great- 
er than  Texas,  the  State  I  love  so  well.  It  is  greater 
than  Virginia,  the  mother  of  presidents;  greater 
than  Massachusetts  or  New  York.  We  have  not 
given  ourself  to  any  State  or  province.  We  are  citi- 
zens of  America,  the  greatest  country  on  the  globe. 

A  clear  old  mother  in  Missouri  had  a  happy 
family  of  eight  children,  two  were  grown  sons.  One 
of  the  sons  joined  Price's  army  and  tried  the  for- 
tunes of  the  South.     The  other  joined  the  Federal 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  203 

army  and  tried  the  fortunes  of  the  North.  Many 
battles  were  fought;  thousands  were  killed;  armies 
were  defeated ;  prisoners  were  captured ;  homes  were 
destroyed ;  families  were  broken  up ;  and  these  two 
brothers  went  through  all  the  desperate  struggles 
and  engaged  in  many  a  bloody  conflict,  but  the  time 
came  when  Lee  surrendered  at  Appomattox,  and  the 
two  brothers  again  returned  to  their  old  home,  and 
there  upon  the  threshold  of  that  old  home,  where 
they  had  played  together  when  they  were  boys,  they 
shook  hands  and  agreed  to  forget  the  past.  And  the 
loving  mother  gave  them  both  the  same  welcome,  and 
her  heart  overflowed,  and  was  made  to  rejoice,  as 
she  fell  upon  her  knees  and  looked  up  to  God  through 
her  tears,  and  thanked  Him  again  and  again  for  a 
once  more  united  family.  There  are  a  few  still  left 
of  the  blue  and  the  grey.  They  have  gone  through 
many  a  bloody  conflict.  They  long  ago  shook  hands 
over  the  bloody  chasm.  Now  we  know  each  other 
better,  and  should  be  brothers,  as  much  so  as  the  two 
brothers  that  shook  hands  in  the  presence  of  their 
mother,  on  returning  to  their  old  home  in  Missouri 
after  the  war.  We  are  members  of  the  same  family, 
and  descended  of  noble  sires  and  the  sons  of  a  people 
that  were  born  to  rule,  and  citizens  of  a  mighty  na- 
tion, and  the  most  glorious  country  on  the  globe. 
We  should  be  loyal  to  this  great  country,  and  also 
loyal  and  true  to  the  South,  that  has  such  a  glorious 
history,  and  has  furnished  most  of  the  great  men  of 
the  Nation.  The  Lees,  the  Jacksons,  Washington, 
were  all  sons  of  the  South.  When  the  Civil  War 
was  over  and  the  Angel  of  Peace  had  checked  the 
movements  of  contending  forces,  and  war  with  Spain 
took  place,  General  Fitzhugh  Lee  was  sent  to  that 
important  post,  a  son  of  Virginia,  and  a  member 
of  one  of  the  grandest  families  this  Nation  has  pro- 
duced.   When    the    Rough    Riders    were    ambush- 


204  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

ed,  and  El  Caney  seemed  to  become  a  dis- 
aster, after  Shafter  had  failed,  they  placed 
the  forces  in  the  hands  of  Fighting  Joe  Wheeler,  a 
son  of  the  South,  and  as  he  took  the  command  of  the 
advancing  column  of  that  army  he  raised  in  his  stir- 
rups and  shouted,  "Charge  'em,  boys!"  and  "drive 
them  into  the  Gulf,"  and  the  victory  was  soon  won. 

Roosevelt  knew  where  to  get  the  kind  of  men  he 
wanted.  He  knew  in  Texas  and  the  West  they  could 
be  found,  and  here  he  secured  them,  and  they  did 
his  fighting  and  won  the  victories  that  made  him 
President  of  this  United  States.  The  South  has  a 
great  history  of  war,  but  a  far  more  glorious  and 
greater  history  of  peace.  After  the  Civil  War,  when 
the  bloody  conflict  had  ended,  those  that  returned 
home,  many  of  them  barefooted  and  with  scanty  and 
ragged  clothes,  found  their  homes  in  ashes, 
their  stock  stolen  or  driven  away,  their  fence  de- 
stroyed, their  negroes  set  free,  and  their  wives  and 
children  in  a  deplorable  condition.  But  their  hearts 
never  faltered.  They  did  not  give  up.  They  em- 
braced their  children  and  kissed  their  wives,  and 
again  went  to  work  to  build  up  their  shattered  for- 
tunes, and  the  advancement  the  South  has  made  has 
been  a  wonder  to  the  world.  The  South  was  not  re- 
sponsible for  slavery.  The  guilt  or  wrong,  if  at- 
tached to  any  one,  was  our  forefathers  or  the 
country  at  large  that  built  up  and  cherished  the  in- 
stituiton  of  slavery,  and  at  the  beginning  of  the  Civil 
War  the  South  was  not  responsible  for  the  conditions 
the  country  was  in. 

And  today  the  South  and  the  Southern  people 
are  the  best  friends  the  negro  has.  Taking  a  broad 
view  of  the  conditions  of  the  negro  now,  and  the 
negro  when  first  sold  into  slavery,  and  we  must  all 
admit  that  slavery  in  the  end  has  been  a  great  bless- 
ing to  the  negro,  and  a  great  curse  to  the  white  peo- 
ple of  this  Nation. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  205 

Third  Legislature  of  Texas,  but  the  first  one  in 
which  Dallas  County  was  represented. 

FIRST  LEGISLATURE,  1847-9— HOUSE. 
William  M.  Cochran. 

SECOND  LEGISLATURE,  1849-51— HOUSE. 
Jefferson  Weather  ford. 

THIRD  LEGISLATURE,  1851-53— HOUSE. 

John  M.  Crockett. 

FOURTH  LEGISLATURE,  1853-55— HOUSE. 
John  M.  Crockett. 

FIFTH  LEGISLATURE,  1855-57— HOUSE. 
John  M.  Crockett. 

SIXTH  LEGISLATURE,  1857-59— HOUSE. 
Andrew  J.  Witt. 

SEVENTH  LEGISLATURE,  1859-61— HOUSE. 
Nicholas  H.  Darnell. 

EIGHTH  LEGISLATURE,  1861-63— HOUSE. 
Jas.  P.  Thomas.    Resigned  in  '62.    Succeeded  by 
Jas  P.  Goodnight. 

NINTH  LEGISLATURE,  1863-65— HOUSE. 

Geo.  Wilson.     Resigned  and  succeeded  by  John 
C.  McCoy. 

ELEVENTH  LEGISLATURE. 

No  election  '66,  but  under  military  rule.    1867  to 
1869,  Nat.  M.  Burford,  Arch  M.  Cochran. 

TWELFTH  LEGISLATURE,  1869-72— HOUSE. 

John  W.  Lane. 
THIRTEENTH  LEGISLATURE,  1872-73— HOUSE. 

John  Henry  Brown. 
FOURTEENTH  LEGISLATURE,  1873-75— HOUSE 

John  H.  Cochran. 


206  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

FIFTEENTH  LEGISLATURE,  1875-77— HOUSE. 
John  H.  Cochran,  J.  T.  Downs. 

SIXTEENTH  LEGISLATURE,  1877-79— HOUSE. 
John  H.  Cochran,  Speaker  (M.  D.  K.  Taylor  and 
Guy  M.  Bryan  were  his  competitors  for  Speaker) , 
John  W.  Daniels. 

SEVENTEENTH  LEGISLATURE,  1879-81— 
HOUSE. 
John  W.  Daniels,  Thos.  F.  Nash. 

EIGHTEENTH   LEGISLATURE,    1881-83— 
HOUSE. 
John  H.  Cochran,  Thos.  F.  Nash. 

NINETEENTH  LEGISLATURE,  1883-85— 
HOUSE. 
R.  S.  Kimbrough,  Z.  Ellis  Combs. 

TWENTIETH  LEGISLATURE,  1885-87— HOUSE. 
Jesse  M.  Strong,  J.  C.  Rugel. 

TWENTY-FIRST  LEGISLATURE— HOUSE. 
J.  M.  Strong,  J.  F.  Rowland. 

TWENTY-SECOND  LEGISLATURE— HOUSE. 
J.  H.  Cochran,  J.  F.  Rowland. 

TWENTY-THIRD  LEGISLATURE— HOUSE. 

J.  H.  Cochran,  Speaker  of  House  (Gassett  Wilson 
and  Breeding,  competitors) ,  P.  H.  Golden,  A.  S. 
Taylor,  Lancaster. 
Floater:    R.  King,  in  1896. 

TWENTY-FOURTH  LEGISLATURE— HOUSE. 
J.  F.  Reiger,  W.  A.  Orr,  R.  B.  Allen. 
Floater:    B.  King. 

TWENTY-FIFTH  LEGISLATURE— HOUSE. 

W.  C.  McKamy,  J.  F.    Reiger,    J.    S.    Strother. 
Floater:    H.  W.  Manson. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  207 

TWENTY-SIXTH  LEGISLATURE-HOUSE 

Dudley  G.  Wooten,  W.  C.  McKamy,  Wm.  Gill. 
TWENTY-SEVENTH  LEGISLATURE-HOUSE. 

W.  A.  Shaw,  Mike  Lively,  J.  S.  Strother. 
TWENTY-EIGHTH  LEGISLATURE-HOUSE 

Curtis  Hancock,  Thos.  B.  Love,  J.  S.  Strother. 

Floater:    J.  W.  Reese. 
TWENTY-NINTH  LEGISLATURE-HOUSE 

O.  P.  Bowser,  Curtis  Hancock,    Thos.    B.  Love. 

Floater:    E.  D.  Foree. 
THIRTIETH  LEGISLATURE— HOUSE. 

E.  C.  Lively,  Claude  M.  McCallum,  Thos.  B.  Love. 
Floater:    Jeff  D.  Cox. 

COUNTY  CLERKS  OF  DALLAS  COUNTY. 

William  M.  Cochran,  first  County  Clerk  He  was 
the  father  of  J.  H.  Cochran,  A.  M.  Cochran  and 
James  Cochran,  of  this  city. 

John  W.  Smith,  second  County  Clerk. 
Alexander  Harwood,  third  County  Clerk.    Alex- 
ander Harwood  served  from  1850  to  1854. 

William  W.  Peak,  fourth  County  Clerk,  '54  to  '56. 
W.  K.  Masten,  fifth  County  Clerk,  1856  to  '60. 
Ed.  W.  Hunt,  sixth  County  Clerk,  1860  to  '62. 
George  W.  Laws,  seventh  County  Clerk,  1862  to 
1866. 

James  P.  Thomas,  eighth  County  Clerk,  '66  to  '67. 

The  officers  of  Dallas  County  were  removed  in 

November,  1867,  and  from  that  time  to  1870  we  had 


208  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

military  despotism,  and  all  officers  were  appointed 
by  the  military. 

County  Judge  A.  Bledsoe,  and  the  ninth  County 
Clerk  was  Samuel  S.  Jones  to  1870.  John  M.  Laws 
tenth  County  and  District  Clerk.  Election  1873. 
Alex  Harwood,  the  eleventh,  was  elected  District  and 
County  Clerk,  and  served  until  1882. 

In  1882  W.  M.  C.  Hill,  the  twelfth  County  Clerk, 
served  three  terms  until  1888. 

1888,  Bev  Scott,  the  thirteenth  County  Clerk,  was 
elected,  and  served  until  1892,  two  terms.  Lee  H. 
Hughes,  fourteenth  County  Clerk,  served  two  terms, 
until  1896.  Albert  Jackson,  fifteenth  County  Clerk, 
served  three  terms,  until  1902. 

Frank  R.  Shanks,  sixteenth  County  Clerk,  served 
two  terms,  until  1906. 

Jack  M.  Gaston,  seventeenth  County  Clerk,  is 
now  in  office. 


STATE  SENATORS 

In  1846,  when  Dallas  County  was  created,  Joseph 
L.  Hogg,  of  Nacogdoches,  represented  in  the  Senate 
the  east  half  of  the  county,  and  Henry  J.  Jewett,  of 
Robertson  County,  the  west  half;  in  1849,  in  a  new 
district  Albert  G.  Walker  of  Dallas  was  elected  over 
J.  H.  Reagan,  the  Senatorial  term  being  four  years. 
In  1851  Walker  resigned,  and  Samuel  Bogart,  of  Col- 
lin, was  elected  to  fill  the  unexpired  term.  In  1853 
to  1857,  Jefferson  Weatherford,  of  Dallas  County, 
was  Senator.  From  1857  to  1861,  A.  G.  Walker,  of 
Tarrant,  was  Senator.  In  1861  to  '65,  Jefferson 
Weatherford  again  served.  Owing  to  the  close  of 
the  war  and  provisional  government  by  the  appoint- 
ment of  President  Johnson,  there  was  no  election  in 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  209 

1865.  A.  J.  Hamilton  was  apopinted  provisional  Gov- 
ernor and  served  from  July  25,   1865,  to  August, 

1866.  Under  the  Constituiton  of  1866  and  the  ses- 
sion in  that  year  J.  K.  P.  Record  of  Dallas  was  Sen- 
ator. That  Constitution  and  government  were  over- 
thrown by  the  reconstruction  act  of of 

Congress  of  March  2,  1867,  and  from  July  30,  1867, 
to  April  16,  1870,  the  State  was  under  military  gov- 
ernment. The  next  Senator  after  the  military  govern- 
ment was  Samuel  Evans,  of  Tarrant,  and  served 
until  1873,  when  Amzi  Bradshaw  of  Ellis  was  elect- 
ed. Then  Robert  S.  Guy,  of  Lancaster,  was  elected 
and  served  for  four  years.  He  was  succeded  in  1880 
by  Anson  Rainey,  of  Ellis  County.  He  served  to 
1882 ;  Barnett  Gibbs  to  1884.  Then  Joseph  0.  Ter- 
rell, of  Kaufman,  to  1886.  Then  R.  S.  Kimbrough 
was  elected,  and  served  two  terms  until  1890.  Then 
O.  P.  Bowser  was  elected  and  served  three  terms 
until  1896.  Then  Barry  Miller  was  elected  and 
served  until  1906.  Then  E.  G.  Senter  was  elected, 
and  is  still  in  office. 


FIRST  COUNTY  JUDGES  OF 
DALLAS  COUNTY 

1846  to  1848— John  Thomas. 

1848  to  1850— Wm.  H.  Hord. 

Wm.  H.  Hord  married  the  first  couple  after  the 
organization  of  the  county. 

1850  to  1852 — Smith  Elkins,  resigned ;  John  W. 
Lattimer,  re-elected. 

1852  to  1854 — John  W.  Lattimer. 

1854  to  1856— J.  M.  Patterson. 

1856  to  1858— J.  M.  Patterson. 


210  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

1858  to  1860— J.  M.  Patterson. 
1860  to  1862— J.  M.  Patterson. 
1862  to  1864— J.  M.  Patterson. 
1864  to  1866— J.  M.  Patterson. 
1866  to  1868— Z.  E.  Coombes. 
1868  to  1870— A.  Bledsoe. 
1870  to  1872— John  D.  Kerfoot. 
1872  to  1874— John  D.  Kerfoot. 
1874  to  1876— Nat  M.  Burford. 
1876  to  1878— Robert  H.  West. 
1878  to  1880— R.  E.  Burke. 
1880  to  1882— R.  E.  Burke. 
1882  to  1884— R.  E.  Burke. 
1884  to  1886— E.  G.  Bower. 
1886  to  1888— E.  G.  Bower. 
1888  to  1890— E.  G.  Bower. 
1890  to  1892— E.  G.  Bower. 
1892  to  1894— T.  F.  Nash. 
1894  to  1896— T.  F.  Nash. 
1896  to  1898— S.  H.  Foree. 
1898  to  1900— S.  H.  Foree. 
1900  to  1902— Ed.  Lauderdale. 
1902  to  1904— Ed.  Lauderdale. 
1904  to  1906— H.  F.  Lively. 
1906  to  1908— H.  F.  Lively. 


TOWN  GOVERNMENT  OF  DALLAS, 
1856  TO  1862 

Dallas  as  a  town  a  half  a  mile  square  was  first 
incorporated  by  the  Legislature  February  2,  1856. 
When  Jefferson  Weatherford  was  the  Senator  and  A. 
J.  Witt  the  representative.  The  charter  was  drawn 
by  Nat.  M.  Burford.  The  first  election  was  held 
April  5,  1856,  and  I  give  the  vote  in  full. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  ■  211 

1856-57.    City  Officers— First  Election. 

Mayor-elect — 

Dr.  Sam  B.  Pryor 58  votes 

A.  A.  Rice,  competitor 34  votes 

Marshal — 

Andrew  M.  Moore 55  votes 

J.  W.  Merifield,  competitor.  . 37  votes 

Treasurer — 

Wm.  L.  Murphy,  elect 56  votes 

Z.  E.  Ronney,  competitor 36  votes 

Recorder — 

Samuel  Jones,  elect 90  votes 

Six  Aldermen — 

Wm.  Burtle 75  votes 

W.  Latimer  74  votes 

Wm.  J.  Halsell 71  votes 

Burrill  Wilkes 68  votes 

Mr.  Williams 59  votes 

Geo.  M.  Baird 57  votes 

April,  1857,  to  April,  1858,  John  M.  Crockett, 
Mayor,  Marlin  M.  Thompson,  Marshal. 

April,  1858,  to  August,  1858,  Isaac  Naylor,  May- 
or; Andrew  Moore,  Marshal. 

A  few  days  after  the  election  Andy  Moore  killed 
Alexander  Cochrell.  During  the  following  June  the 
citizens  voted  to  adopt  the  general  Act  for  municipal 
corporations,  which  had  been  but  a  short  time  pre- 
vious been  passed  by  the  Legislature,  and  under  this 
Act  the  following  officers  were  elected  August  2nd. : 

Mayor — 

Dr.  A.  D.  Rice 39  votes 

Scattering    H  votes 


212  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

City  Marshal — 

Wm.  M.  Moon 57  votes 

Five  Aldermen — 

Wm.  Halsell  . 22  votes 

Isaac  C.  Nailor 19  votes 

James  N.  Smith 18  votes 

Wm.  W.  Peak 12  votes 

August,  1859,  to  August,  1860: 

Mayor — 

J.  M.  Crockett 38  votes 

Marshal — 

Geo.  W.  Baird 37  votes 

Five  Aldermen — 

Wm.  M.  Moon 39  votes 

James  W.  Smith. 39  votes 

Geo.  W.  Guess 39  votes 

Edward  W.  Hunt 38  votes 

Dr.  S.  B.  Pryor 37  votes 

1860-61. 
Mayor — 

J.  M.  Crockett 51  votes 

Marshal — 

M.  M.  Thompson 40  votes 

There  were  five  aldermen  elected :  J.  N.  Smith, 
Wm.  M.  Peak,  G.  W.  Guess,  Dr.  Sam  B.  Pryor;  vote 
39  to  43. 

August,  '61  to  '62.  Many  of  the  men  had  gone 
into  the  army,  and  the  vote  was  still  light. 

Mayor — 

Rev.  Thorn.  E.  Sherwood 30  votes 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  213 

Marshal — 

Peter  Stevenson 34  votes 

Five  Aldermen  elected — 

G.  N.  Guess 63  votes 

J.  N.  Smith 62  votes 

Edward  Hunt .61  votes 

Wm.  M.  Peak 58  votes 

Dr.  Sam  B.  Pryor 56  votes 

August  1861-66.  The  records  fail  to  show  any 
election,  but  an  election  was  held  by  authority  of 
the  County  Judge,  as  the  law  at  that  time  provided. 
The  county  records  therefore  show : 

Mayor — 

John  W.  Lane,  vote ^  votes 

J.  M.  Crockett 25  votes 

Marshall,  Mat  J.  Moore 49  votes 

Aldermen— S.  S.  Sanders,  John  Neeley  Bryan,  A. 
W.  Moreton,  Edward  W.  Hunt,  and  M.  M.  Morrow, 
vote  86  to  91.  Throckmorton  selected  Lane  for  his 
private  secretary,  and  George  W.  Guess  became 
Mayor.  He  elected  by  the  City  Council  to  fill  out  the 
term. 

In  1867  no  record  appears  of  any  election  during 
this  year,  and  there  appears  to  have  been  no  Mayor 
from  August,  1867,  till  September,  1868,  when  the 
following  officers  were  appointed  by  the  Federal 
authorities  at  Austin  under  Governor  Davis'  rule, 
from  September,  1868,  to  November,  1872. 

Mayor,  Benjamin  Long;  Marshal,  J.  F.  Barbier; 
Treasurer,  A.  J.  Gouffe ;  Aldermen,  J.  P.  McKnight, 
C.  R.  Miller,  Henry  Boll,  Edwin  Taylor,  John  Ten- 
ison.  John  Henry  Brown  gives  the  following  item 
in  history :  Mr.  Boll  refused  to  serve,  and  Mr.  Ten- 
ison  soon  resigned.    Samuel  S.  Jones  and  J.  C.  Seydel 


214  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

were  appointed  in  their  stead.  Then  Jones  resigned, 
and  John  Loufot  was  substituted.  Long  resigned 
to  visit  Europe,  April  1st,  1870,  when  Henry  S. 
Ervay  was  appointed  by  the  newly  installed  Gov- 
ernor Davis,  and  held  the  office  till  the  four  days 
November  5,  6,  7  and  8,  1872,  under  the  charter 
granted  in  May,  1871.  Under  Ervay's  administra- 
tion John  N.  McCoy  was  attorney,  R.  S.  Druley,  Sec- 
retary, and  G.  W.  Campbell,  Marshal.  The  Alder- 
men at  different  times  (some  resigning)  were:  F.  L. 
Wellemet,  Ira  B.  Conklin,  Samuel  Crosley,  E.  H.  Ken- 
dal, J.  C.  Seydel,  Z.  E.  Coombs,  Dr.  E.  W.  Tucker 
and  Edwin  Taylor.  In  1872  Governor  Davis,  who 
had  been  counted  in  by  Gen.  J.  J.  Reynolds,  of  the 
United  States  Army,  headquarters  at  Austin,  con- 
cluded that  Mr.  Ervay  was  not  sufficiently  loyal,  and 
issued  an  order  removing  him,  and  appointed  anoth- 
er in  his  place,  but  the  civil  government  had  reorgan- 
ized, and  both  under  legal  advice  and  a  sense  of  duty 
to  the  people  refused  to  yield.  District  Judge  Har- 
den Hart  issued  a  mandate  commanding  him  to  sur- 
render the  office,  but  Mr.  Ervay  positively  refused 
to  comply,  and  thereupon  he  was  committed  to  jail. 
It  so  happened,  however,  just  at  that  crisis  that  a 
decision  arrived  here  made  by  Davis'  own  Supreme 
Court,  in  a  precisely  similar  case,  ruling  that  the 
governor  did  not  possess  the  power  of  removal. 
Whereupon  Judge  Hart  hastened  to  unlock  the  prison 
door  and  Mr.  Ervay  stepped  out  a  free  man,  to  re- 
sume the  duties  as  Mayor,  and  enjoy  the  increased 
respect  of  the  people.  His  conduct  throughout  the 
affair  deserved  and  received  the  warmest  approval 
of  the  people. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  215 

November,  1872,  to  April,  1874. 

Mayor — 

Benjamin  Long,  Republican, 348  votes 

Edward  H.  Hunt,  Democrat 24b  votes 

Thomas  Flvnn  was  elected  Marshal,  Dr.  David 
King,  Assessor  and  Collector.  The  Aldermen  were . 
Ellen  P.  Brvan,  Sr.,  C.  Capy,  George  M.  Swmk, 
Frank  Austin,  Wm.  H.  Gaston,  Michel  Treyenet 
John  W.  Lane,  A.  M.  Cochran.  The  Council  elected 
Henry  Boll,  Treasurer;  James  H.  Field,  Attorney;  C 
S.  Mitchell,  Secretary.  This  election  was  held  and 
charter  granted,  May  22,  1871. 

On  the  24th  of  April,  1873,    all    of    the  above 
named  Aldermen  resigned,  except  Lane,  and  the  fol- 
lowing were  elected  in  their  stead :    Henry  S.  Ervay, 
Hickerson  Barksdale,  Alex  Sanger,  John  H.  Bryan 
Wm.  H.  Scales,  John  Owen,  Wm.  G.  Sterett,  and 
James  Greer.     Olen  Welborn  was  elected  City  At- 
torney, October  6,  1873.    These  held  their  office  until 
the  first  Tuesday,  1874,  at  which  time  the  following 
were  elected:     Mayor,  W.  L.  Cabell;  Marshal   June 
Peak;  Assessor  and  Collector,  T.  J.  Keaton;  Attor- 
ney, Wm.  M.  Edwards;  Treasurer  Robert  A.  West 
Engineer,  Wm.  M.  Johnson;  Secretary,  W.  H.  Piatn 
er ;  Aldermen:  Henry  S.  Ervay,  R.  E.  Burke;  Jas.  A. 
Leonard,  R.  D.    Coughanour,    J.    S.    Howell, _A.   i. 
Hensley,  John  Owens,  Joseph  C.  McConndl Wm.  C. 
Young  H.  B.  McConnell.    Elected  April,  1875  .  May- 
or W  L.  Cabell;  Marshal,  June  Peak;  Assessor  and 
Collector,  T.  J.  Keaton ;  Attorney,  Wm.  M.  Edwards; 
Engineer,  Wm.  M.  Johnson;  Treasurer,  Robert  M. 
West;  Secretary,  J.  B.  Hereford.    Aldermen:  J.  W. 
Crowdus,  Henry  S.  Ervay,  F.  L.  Wellemet  ,  iL  T. 
Obenchain,  Alfred  Davis,  Benj.  P.  Jett,  D.  E.  Grove, 
Wm.  J.  Shone,  R.  V.  Thompkins,  E.  C.  McLure. 


216  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

On  the  27th  day  of  April,  1875,  this  Council 
adopted  the  general  incorporation  law  of  the  State, 
and  all  of  the  officers  under  this  change  were  elected 
every  two  years,  except  the  Mayor,  one-half  to  be 
elected  to  serve  one  year,  the  other  half  two  years. 
So  it  followed  after  this  election  that  one-half  would 
be  elected  annually,  each  holding  his  office  two  years. 

1876:  Mayor,  John  D.  Kerfoot  for  one  year; 
Marshal,  W.  F.  Morton ;  Assessor  and  Collector,  J. 
N.  Ogden;  Attorney,  Barnett  Gibbs,  for  two  years; 
Engineer,  Wm.  M.  Johnson,  for  two  years ;  Secre- 
tary, J.  B.  Hereford;  Alderman,  John  W.  Crowdus, 
Henry  S.  Ervay,  W.  J.  Clark,  F.  E.  Guedry,  Benj. 
P.  Jett,  E.  P.  Cowen,  Jacob  L.  Williams,  Dr.  M.  M. 
Newsom. 

August  9th  there  was  another  change  made  in 
the  election  of  officers.  The  two  years'  term  was 
changed  so  as  to  include  that  of  the  Mayor.  And 
also  an  amendment  afterwards  adopted  so  as  to  allow 
the  Council  to  elect  the  Engineer,  Treasurer  and  At- 
torney, instead  of  the  people  electing  them. 

April,  1877  :  Mayor,  W.  L.  Cabell ;  Aldermen,  H. 
S.  Ervay,  J.  W.  Crowdus,  W.  M.  C.  Hill,  F.  E. 
Guedry,  W.  J.  Shone,  Benj.  P.  Jett,  Dr.  M.  M.  New- 
som, Jacob  L.  Williams. 

1878:  Mayor,  W.  L.  Cabell;  Assessor  and  Col- 
lector, Julius  C.  Bogel ;  Treasurer,  J.  W.  Bowen ;  At- 
torney, Barnett  Gibbs;  Marshal,  W.  F.  Morton;  En- 
gineer, S.  W.  S.  Duncan ;  Secretary,  J.  B.  Hereford ; 
Aldermen,  John  F.  Caldwell,  H.  S.  Ervay,  P.  B.  Shel- 
don, M.  D.  Garlington,  W.  C.  Holland,  W.  J.  Shone. 
Dr.  M.  M.  Newsom. 

1879  :  Mayor,  J.  M.  Thurman ;  Assessor  and  Col- 
lector, J.  C.  Bogel;  Treasurer,  John  C.  Bowen;  At- 
torney, Barnett  Gibbs ;  Marshal,  W.  F.  Morton ;  En- 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  217 

gineer,  S.  W.  S.  Duncan;  Secretary,  J.  B.  Hereford. 
These  held  over  into  this  term.  Aldermen,  John  B. 
Stone,  John  F.  Caldwell,  L.  F.  Bohny,  P.  B.  Shel- 
don, W.  K.  Wheelock,  John  S.  Witwer,  Chas.  E.  Kel- 
ler, W.  R.  Mclntire. 

April,  1880:  Marshal,  W.  F.  Morton;  Assessor 
and  Collector,  J.  C.  Bogel;  Engineer,  J.  S.  Thatcher; 
Attorney,  Barnett  Gibbs ;  Secretary,  J.  B.  Hereford ; 
Aldermen,  H.  S.  Ervay,  John  B.  Stone,  J.  S.  Ballard, 
L.  F.  Bohny,  Zimri  Hunt,  W.  K.  Wheelock,  E.  M. 
Tillman,  Chas.  E.  Keller.  Mayor  Thurman  in  Sep- 
tember, 1880,  was  removed  from  office  by  a  vote  of 
the  Council,  and  John  J.  Good  was  elected  to  fill  the 
vacancy. 

1881 :  John  Stone  was  elected  Mayor  by  a  ma- 
jority of  37  votes,  but  was  declared  ineligible  be- 
cause he  did  not  reside  within  the  corporate  limits 
of  the  city,  as  the  charter  provided,  and  on  the  17th 
day  of  May,  Dr.  J.  W.  Crowdus  was  elected.  J.  B. 
Hereford  resigned  as  Secretary,  and  G.  M.  Swink 
was  elected  to  fill  out  the  unexpired  term.  Alder- 
men :  D.  A.  Williams,  H.  S.  Ervay,  W.  J.  Clark,  J.  S. 
Ballard,  J.  D.  Carter,  Zimri  Hunt,  Frank  G.  Moore, 
E.  M.  Tillman.  Hunt  resigned  and  Dr.  J.  V.  Chil- 
dress was  elected.  Marshal,  James  Arnold ;  Assessor 
and  Collector,  J.  C.  Bogel;  Treasurer,  N.  W.  God- 
bold  ;  Attorney,  Frank  Field ;  Secretary,  G.  M. 
Swink ;  Engineer,  Wm.  M.  Johnson.  Aldermen,  Sig- 
mond  Loeb,  D.  A.  Williams,  James  Moroney,  W.  J. 
Clark,  C.  F.  Carter,  J.  D.  Carter,  E.  M.  Tillman, 
Frank  G.  Moore.  Dallas  is  growing  rapidly  and  put- 
ting on  city  airs. 

1883:  Mayor,  W.  L.  Cabell;  Aldermen,  Frank 
M.  Cockrell,  Sigmond  Loeb,  John  Spellman,  James 
Moroney,  J.  D.  Carter,  C.  F.  Carter,  C.  A.  Gill,  E. 
M.  Tillman.    Under  an  amendment  of  the  charter  of 


218  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

March,  1883,  the  city  was  divided  into  six  instead 
of  four  wards,  and  in  April,  1884,  two  aldermen  were 
elected  from  each  ward,  and  classified  anew  as  be- 
fore. 

In  April,  1884:  Marshal,  James  C.  Arnold;  As- 
sessor and  Collector,  J.  C.  Bogel;  Attorney,  Wm.  H. 
Johnson;  Treasurer,  W.  H.  Flippen;  Engineer,  W. 
M.  Johnson;  Secretary,  W.  E.  Parry;  Health  Officer, 
Dr.  J.  L.  Carter;  Aldermen,  D.  A.  Williams,  John 
Spellman,  James  Maroney,  Robert  B.  Seay,  Jacob 
Rauch,  E.  C.  Smith,  Sigmond  Loeb,  Robert  Gibson, 
Charles  D.  Keller,  John  Henry  Brown,  J.  D.  Carter, 
Messrs.  D.  A.  Williams,  John  Spellman,  Robert  B. 
Seay,  E.  C.  Smith,  Robert  Gibson.  John  Henry 
Brown  drew  the  two  years'  term,  the  others  one 
year. 

1885 :  Mayor,  John  Henry  Brown.  Aldermen  : 
John  B.  Loucks,  D.  A.  Williams,  W.  F.  Daugherty, 
John  Spellman,  John  Bookhout,  Jacob  Rauch,  Sig- 
mond Loeb,  P.  W.  Linskie  (vice  E.  C.  Smith,  re- 
signed), Chas.  E.  Keller,  Robert  Gibson,  J.  D.  Car- 
ter, Samuel  Peterman  (vice  John  Henry  Brown,  re- 
signed). 

April,  1886 :  Mayor,  John  Henry  Brown,  hold- 
ing over ;  Marshal,  James  C.  Arnold ;  Attorney,  W. 
H.  Johnson ;  Assessor  and  Collector,  J.  Ford  House ; 
Engineer,  J.  S.  Thatcher;  Water  Superintendent, 
Dave  Tichenor ;  Secretary,  W.  E.  Parry ;  Health  Offi- 
cer, Dr.  J.  L.  Carter;  Aldermen,  John  B.  Louch,  J. 
A.  Brown,  W.  F.  Daugherty,  D.  P.  Mahoney,  Jacob 
Rauch,  John  Bookout,  Sigmond  Loeb,  F.  R.  Rowley, 
C.  D.  Keller,  D.  C.  Mitchell,  J.  D.  Carter,  Samuel 
Peterman. 

April,  1887:  Mayor,  W.  C.  Connor;  Recorder 
(newly  created  office),  T.  J.  A.  Brown;  Assessor, 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  219 

J.  F.  House;  Assistant,  Ben  F.  Melton;  Secretary,  W. 
E.  Parry ;  Assistant,  Wm.  McGrain ;  Water  Superin- 
tendent, Dave  Tichenor;  Health  Officer,  Dr.  J.  L. 
Carter;  Attorney,  W.  H.  Johnson;  Engineer,  J.  S. 
Thatcher;  Water  Collector,  L.  M.  Fargason;  Alder- 
men, John  B.  Louck,  Frank  Cockrell  (vice  T.  J.  A. 
Brown,  resigned),  D.  P.  Mahoney,  A.  M.  Cochran, 
Jacob  Ranch,  W.  L.  Hall,  F.  R.  Rowley,  Sigmond 
Loeb,  D.  C.  Mitchell,  K.  J.  Kivlen,  Samuel  Peterman, 
Darius  Welch. 

Police  Force  of  Dallas,  July  1,  1887 :  James  C. 
Arnold,  Marshal;  Geo.  Ed.  Cornwall,  Deputy  Mar- 
shal; Samuel  H.  Beard  and  Henry  C.  Waller,  mount- 
ed officers;  John  T.  Carter,  Clerk;  Dean  S.  Arnold, 
Station  keeper;  Thos.  C.  Halsell,  in  charge  of  street 
force;  regular  patrolmen:  Wm.  M.  Moon,  James  A. 
Beard,  John  P.  Keehan,  John  W.  Kivlen,  Patrick 
Mullins,  W.  R.  Barnes,  Clifton  Scott,  Peter  Ahearns, 
Geo.  L.  Williams,  Erastus  F.  Yates,  Wm.  Schroeter, 
Wood  H.  Ramsey,  M.  W.  Skelton,  Milburn  W.  Kirby. 

1887  :  Mayor,  W.  C.  Connor ;  Recorder,  T.  J.  A. 
Brown;  Assessor,  J.  F.  House;  Assistant,  Ben  Mel- 
ton; Secretary,  W.  E.  Parry;  Assistant,  Wm.  Mc- 
Grain; Water  Superintendent,  Dave  Tichenor; 
Health  Officer,  Dr.  J.  L.  Carter;  Attorney,  W.  H. 
Johnson;  Engineer,  J.  S.  Thatcher;  Water  Collector, 
L.  M.  Fargason.  Aldermen:  John  Loucks,  Frank 
Cockrell  (vice  T.  J.  A.  Brown,  resigned),  D.  P.  Ma- 
honey, A.  M.  Cochran,  Jacob  Rauch,  W.  L.  Hall,  F.  R. 
Rowley,  Sigmond  Loeb,  D.  C.  Mitchell,  K.  J.  Kivlm, 
Samuel  Peterman,  Darius  Welch. 

1888:  Mayor,  W.  C.  Connor;  City  Secretary, 
Wm.  McGrain;  City  Treasurer,  W.  H.  Flippen;  Re- 
corder, T.  J.  A.  Brown ;  City  Marshal,  J.  C.  Arnold ; 
City  Attorney,  W.  H.  Johnson ;  Collector,  J.  C.  Bogel ; 


220  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

Assessor,  Ben  M.  Melton;  City  Engineer,  R.  W. 
Havens ;  Superintendent  Waterworks,  Dave  Tichenor ; 
Health  Officer,  Dr.  J.  L.  Carter;  Chief  of  Fire  De- 
partment, Tom  Wilkerson;  Assistant  Chief,  John 
Spellman ;  School  Board :  C.  A.  Gill,  T.  G.  Terry,  F. 
M.  Ervay,  J.  H.  Jones,  Henry  J.  Frees,  E.  P.  Mar- 
shall, 0.  E.  Linderman,  Pro.  J.  T.  Hand.  Aldermen : 
John  B.  Loucks,  W.  F.  Johnstone,  W.  M.  Edwards, 
A.  M.  Cochran,  W.  L.  Hall,  L.  S.  Garrison,  F.  R. 
Rowley,  K.  J.  Kivlin,  C.  H.  Howell,  D.  Welsh,  Ben 
M.  Good,  J.  M.  Wendelkin,  G.  V.  Hughes. 

1889 :  Mayor,  W.  C.  Connor ;  City  Judge,  T.  J. 
A.  Brown;  School  Board,  T.  G.  Terry,  John  Alder- 
hoff,  A.  C.  Ardrey,  W.  H.  Lemmon,  M.  V.  Cole.  Al- 
dermen :  John  Loucks,  J.  J.  Gannin,  W.  C.  Holland, 
Sigmond  Loeb,  K.  J.  Kivlin,  M.  T.  Cone,  Geo.  V. 
Hughes,  Geo.  Cole,  J.  M.  Howell,  Wm.  Bustren,  Wm. 
Harris. 

1890:  Mayor,  W.  C.  Connor;  City  Attorney,  A. 
P.  Wozencraf t ;  Assistant,  Man  Trice ;  City  Auditor, 
F.  R.  Rowley;  Secretary,  W.  McGrain;  Treasurer, 
W.  H.  Gaston ;  City  Judge,  T.  J.  A.  Brown ;  Clerk  of 
City  Court,  John  J.  Carter;  Marshal,  J.  C.  Arnold; 
Assistant  Marshal,  G.  E.  Cornwell;  Collector,  J.  C. 
Bogel;  Assessor,  Ben  M.  Melton;  Engineer,  D.  A. 
Poyner;  Superintendent  Waterworks,  D.  P.  Ma- 
honey;  Health  Officer,  W.  R.  Wilson,  M.  D. ;  City 
Chemist,  L.  Myers  Connor;  Chief  of  Fire  Depart- 
ment, Tom  Wilkerson ;  Assistant  Chief,  Chas.  A. 
Capps;  Street  Superintendent,  J.  S.  Spar;  School 
Board,  T.  G.  Terry,  J.  L.  Peacock,  John  S.  Aldehoff, 
W.  B.  Parry,  D.  G.  Shelby,  W.  White,  L.  A.  Wilson, 
W.  H.  Lemmon,  M.  V.  Cole,  John  W.  George,  F.  M. 
Ervay,  James  Ennison.  Aldermen:  N.  G.  Turney; 
W.  C.  Holland,  J.  J.  Gannon,  J.  J.  Conroy,  Henry 
Hamilton,  Samuel  Klein,  K.  J.  Kivlin,  W.  J.  Brady, 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  221 

M.  T.  Cone,  R.  R.  Lawther,  Geo.  V.  Hughes,  B.  F. 
Coffman,  J.  M.  Howell,  Geo.  C.  Cole,  Wm.  Bustrin, 
Wm.  Harris,  J.  H.  Webster,  W.  J.  Keller,  G.  W. 
Crutcher,  0.  K.  Harry,  J.  H.  McClellan,  J.  W.  San- 
ders. 

1891:  Mayor,  W.  C.  Connor;  Mayor  pro-tem,  0. 
K.  Harry;  City  Attorney,  A.  P.  Wozencraft;  Assis- 
tant, Mann  Trice ;  City  Auditor,  J.  F.  Caldwell ;  City 
Secretary,  W.  McGrain ;  City  Judge,  Kenneth  Foree ; 
Clerk,  City  Court,  John  T.  Carter;  Chief  of  Police, 
J.  C.  Arnold;  Assistant,  G.  E.  Cornwell;  City  Col- 
lector, J.  C.  Bogel ;  City  Assessor,  B.  M.  Melton ;  City 
Engineer,  D.  A.  Poyner;  Superintendent  Water- 
works, D.  P.  Mahoney ;  Health  Officer,  C.  M.  Rosser, 
M.  D. ;  City  Chemist,  G.  W.  Grove,  M.  D. ;  Chief  Fire 
Department,  Tom  Wilkerson ;  Street  Superintendent, 
J.  S.  Spar;  President  City  Council,  Sam  Klein; 
Secretary,  W.  McGrain.  School  Board,  T.  G.  Terry, 
J.  L.  Peacock,  J.  S.  Alderhoff,  W.  E.  Parry,  C.  P. 
Smith,  W.  White,  L.  A.  Wilson,  J.  H.  Yeargan,  M.  V. 
Cole,  J.  W.  George,  F.  M.  Ervay,  James  Ennison. 
Aldermen :  N.  G.  Turney,  W.  J.  Logan,  J.  J.  Conroy, 
Geo.  T.  Lack,  H.  Hamilton,  G.  A.  Knight,  Sigmond 
Loeb,  Samuel  Kline,  K.  J.  Kivlin,  C.  H.  Howell,  M.  T. 
Cone,  R.  R.  Lawther,  B.  F.  Coffman,  H.  P.  Lawther, 
S.  J.  Potter,  F.  P.  Holland,  Wm.  Harris,  J.  H.  Web- 
ster, W.  J.  Keller,  G.  W.  Crutcher,  J.  H.  McClellan, 
J.  R.  Briggs. 

1892  :  Mayor,  W.  C.  Connor ;  Mayor  pro-tem,  J. 
H.  McClellan ;  City  Attorney,  A.  P.  Wozencraft ;  As- 
sistant, Mann  Trice;  City  Auditor,  J.  F.  Caldwell; 
City  Attorney,  Wm.  McGrain ;  City  Treasurer,  W.  H. 
Gaston;  City  Judge,  Kenneth  Foree;  Clerk  City 
Court,  John  T.  Carter ;  Chief  of  Police,  J.  C.  Arnold ; 
Assistant,  G.  E.  Cornwell;  City  Collector,  J.  C.  Bo- 
gel ;  City  Assessor,  Joe  Blakeney ;  City  Engineer,  D. 


222  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

A.  Poyner;  Superintendent  Waterworks,  J.  M. 
Strong ;  Health  Officer,  V.  P.  Armstrong,  M.  D. ;  City 
Chemist,  G.  W.  Grove,  M.  D. ;  Chief  Fire  Depart- 
ment; Tom  Wilkerson;  Street  Superintendent,  Jake 
Spar;  Electrician,  J.  M.  Oram.  School  Board,  T.  G. 
Terry,  C.  A.  Gill,  J.  P.  Vaughn,  J.  L.  Peacock,  J.  S. 
Aldehoff,  W.  E.  Parry,  W.  White,  J.  H.  Yeargan,  M. 
V.  Cole,  J.  J.  Collins,  C.  0.  Wood,  H.  G.  Putman,  T. 
G.  Harris.  Aldermen :  W.  J.  Logan,  Pat  O'Keefe, 
J.  J.  Conroy,  Geo.  T.  Lack,  G.  A.  Knight,  Curtis  P. 
Smith,  Neal  Starke,  Chas.  Kahn,  K.  J.  Kivlin,  M.  B. 
Loonie,  M.  T.  Cone,  M.  J.  P.  Lacey,  H.  P.  Lawther, 
C.  A.  Cour,  Geo.  C.  Cole,  T.  L.  Lawhon,  Wm.  Bustrin. 
J.  C.  Woodside,  J.  H.  Webster,  W.  J.  Keller,  Y.  B. 
Dowell,  0.  K.  Harry,  J  H.  McClellan,  J  R.  Briggs. 

1893:  Mayor,  B.  T.  Barry;  City  Attorney,  A.  P. 
Wozencraf t ;  City  Auditor,  J.  F.  Caldwell ;  President 
City  Council,  H.  P.  Lawther;  Secretary,  Wm.  Mc- 
Grain;  Treasurer,  W.  H.  Gaston;  City  Judge,  Ken- 
neth Foree ;  Clerk  City  Court,  John  H.  Carter ;  Chief 
Police,  J.  C.  Arnold;  Assistant  Chief,  G.  E.  Corn- 
well;  City  Collector,  J.  C.  Bogel;  Assessor,  Joe 
Blakeney;  Enginer,  D.  A.  Poyner;  Superintendent 
Waterworks,  J.  M.  Strong;  City  Health  Officer,  V. 
P.  Armstrong ;  City  Chemist,  G.  W.  Grove ;  Chief  of 
Fire  Department,  Thos.  Wilkerson;  Street  Superin- 
tendent, J.  S.  Spar;  Electrician,  J.  M.  Oram;  Alder- 
men: Pat  O'Keefe,  A.  M.  Cochran,  C.  P.  Smith,  C. 
A.  Gill,  J.  F.  Callahan,  C.  S.  Swindell,  Chas.  Kahn, 
F.  S.  Kelley,  M.  J.  P.  Lacey,  C.  A.  Cour,  R.  D.  Long, 
J.  C.  Woodside,  J.  C.  Corder,  C.  E.  Bird,  J.  R. 
Briggs. 

1894:  Mayor,  B.  T.  Barry;  City  Attorney,  A.  P. 
Wozencraf t;  Assistant,  T.  A.  Work;  Auditor,  J.  F. 
Caldwell;  Secretary,  Chas.  G.  Morgan;  Assistant, 
T.   L.    Lawhon;   Treasurer,    E.    M.   Reardon;   City 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  223 

Judge,   Kenneth   Foree;    Clerk   City   Court,   M.    C. 
Kahn;  Chief  of  Police,  J.  C.  Arnold;  Assistant,  G. 
E.   Cornwell;   City   Collector,  T.   P.   Scott;   Deputy 
Collector,  F.  R.  Rowley;  Occupation  Tax  Collector, 
J.  F.  Metcalf;  Assessor,  B.  M.  Melton;  Deputy,  E. 
H.    Happel;    Engineer,  R.  W.    Havens;    Assistant, 
Hugh  Rains;  Superintendent  Water  Works,  J.  M. 
Strong;   Collector   of   Water   Works,   J.   F.   Irwin; 
Inspectors  of  Water  Works,  John  F.  Lucas,  John  A. 
Capps;  Health  Officer,  Dr.  V.  P.  Armstrong;  City 
Chemist,  L.  Myers  Connor;  Chief  of  Fire  Depart- 
ment, Tom  Wilkerson;  Assistant,  Tom  M.  Myers; 
Street    Superintendent,     P.     H.     Golden;     Electri- 
cian, W.  A.  Fraser;  Engineer  City  Hall,  Mitchell 
Lam'ey;   Janitor,   John   Devine    (col.).     Aldermen: 
Pat  O'Keefe,  A.  M.  Cochran,  Curtis  P.  Smith,  Chas. 
Kahn,  T.  S.  Kelley,  M.  J.  Lacy,  C.  A.  Cour,  D.  R. 
Long,  J.  C.  Woodside,  J.  L.  Carder,  C.  E.  Bird,  J.  R. 
Briggs. 

1895:  Mayor,  Frank  P.  Holland;  Mayor  pro  tern, 
C  A.  Cour;  City  Attorney,  A.  P.  Wozencraft;  As- 
sistant, T.  A.  Work;  Auditor,  T.  F.  Caldwell;  Secre- 
tary, Chas.  G.  Morgan;  Assistant  Secretary, 
T  F.  Lawhon;  Treasurer,  E.  M.  Reardon; 
City  Judge,  Kenneth  Foree;  Clerk  City  Court, 
M.  C.  Kahn;  Chief  of  Police,  J.  C.  Arnold; 
Assistant  Chief,  G.  E.  Cornwell;  City  Collec- 
tor, T.  P.  Scott;  Deputy  Collector,  F.  R.  Row- 
ley'; Occupation  Tax  Collector,  James  F.  Metcalf; 
Assessor,  B.  M.  Melton;  Deputy  Assessor,  E.  H. 
Happer ;  Engineer,  R.  W.  Havens ;  Assistant  Engin- 
eer, Hugh  Raines;  Superintendent  Water  Works,  J. 
M.  Strong ;  Collector  Water  Works,  J.  F.  Irwin ;  In- 
spectors Water  Works,  John  L.  Lucas,  Chas.  A. 
Capps;  City  Health  Officer,  Dr.  V.  P.  Armstrong; 
City  Chemist,  L.  Myers  Connor;  Chief  Fire  Depart- 


224  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

ment,  Thos.  Wilkerson ;  Assistant.  Chief,  Thos.  My- 
ers; Street  Superintendent,  P.  H.  Golden;  Electri- 
cian, F.  A.  Fraser;  Engineer  City  Hall,  Richard  La- 
mar ;  Janitor,  John  Devine.  Aldermen :  Pat  O'Keef e, 
R.  J.  Adams,  C.  P.  Smith,  Leo  Wolfson,  F.  S.  Kelley, 
M.  J.  P.  Lacey,  C.  A.  Cour,  D.  R.  Long,  J.  C.  Wood- 
side,  J.  C.  Corder,  M.  L.  Robertson,  W.  H.  Lince- 
cum. 

1896 :  Mayor,  F.  P.  Holland ;  Mayor  pro  tern,  J. 
C.  Woodside ;  City  Attorney,  A.  P.  Wozencraft ;  As- 
sistant, T.  A.  Work;  Auditor,  Chas.  G.  Morgan; 
Secretary,  T.  L.  Lawhon ;  Treasurer,  E.  M.  Reardon ; 
Judge,  Kenneth  Foree ;  Clerk,  M.  C.  Kahn ;  Chief  of 
Police,  J.  C.  Arnold;  Assistant  Chief,  M.  W.  Kirby; 
Collector,  T.  P.  Scott;  Deputy  Collector,  F.  R.  Row- 
ley; Occupation  Tax  Collector,  J.  F.  Metcalf;  As- 
sessor, B.  M.  Melton;  Deputy  Assessor,  E.  H.  Hap- 
pel;  Engineer,  R.  W.  Havens;  Assistant,  Hugh 
Rains;  Superintendent  Water  Works,  J.  M.  Strong; 
Collector,  J.  F.  Irwin ;  Inspectors,  Chas.  Capps  and 
Thos.  McGraw ;  Health  Officer,  Dr.  V.  P.  Armstrong ; 
City  Chemist,  L.  Myers  Connor;  Chief  of  Fire  De- 
partment, Thomas  Wilkerson ;  Assistant  Chief,  Tom 
Myers ;  Electrician,  W.  A.  Frazer ;  Street  Superin- 
tendent, P.  H.  Golden ;  Engineer  City  Hall,  Mitchell 
Lamey;  Janitor,  Thos.  Chambers  (col.).  Aldermen: 
Pat  O'Keefe,  R.  T.  Adams,  Curtis  P.  Smith,  Leo 
Wolfson,  F.  S.  Kelley,  M.  J.  Lacy,  C.  A.  Cour,  R.  D. 
Long,  J.  C.  Woodside,  J.  C.  Corder,  M.  L.  Robert- 
son, W.  H.  Lincecum. 

1897:  Mayor,  Bryan  T.  Barry;  Mayor  pro  tern, 
F.  D.  Kelly;  City  Attorney,  A.  P.  Wozencraft;  As- 
sistant, T.  A.  Work;  Auditor,  Chas.  Morgan;  Sec- 
retary, T.  L.  Lawhon ;  Treasurer,  E.  M.  Reardon ; 
City  Judge,  C.  P.  Smith ;  Clerk,  M.  C.  Kahn ;  Chief 
of  Police,  J.  C.  Arnold ;  Assistant  Chief,  M.  W.  Kir- 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  225 

by;  Collector,  T.  P.  Scott;  Deputy,  Ed  F.  Pittman; 
Occupation  Tax  Collector,  J.  F.  Metcalf ;  Assessor, 
Ben  Melton ;  Deputy,  E.  H.  Happel ;  Engineer,  Hugh 
B.  Rains;  Superintendent  Water  Works,  J.  M. 
Strong;  Secretary,  R.  R.  Nelms;  Inspectors  Water 
Works,  Chas.  A.  Capps  and  Thos.  McGraw;  Health 
Officer,  V.  P.  Armstrong;  City  Chemist,  L.  M.  Con- 
nor; Chief  of  Fire  Department,  Tom  Wilkerson; 
Assistant,  J.  W.  Ryan;  Electrician,  W.  A.  Fraser; 
Street  Superintendent,  P.  H.  Goldman;  Engineer 
City  Hall,  Jeremiah  M.  Campion ;  City  Janitor,  Thos. 
Chambers  (col.).  Aldermen:  D.  E.  Grove,  R.  T. 
Adams,  A.  A.  Jackson,  Leo  Wolfson,  F.  S.  Kelley, 
Theo.  Beilharz,  A.  P.  Black,  D.  R.  Long,  J.  E.  Jami- 
son, Kirk  Hall,  S.  I.  Munger,  W.  H.  Lincecum. 

1898 :  Mayor,  John  H.  Traylor ;  Mayor  pro  tern, 
W.  H.  Lincecum;  City  Attorney,  Wm.  P.  Ellison; 
Assistant,  T.  A.  Work;  Auditor,  Chas.  E.  Morgan; 
Secretary,  T.  L.  Lawhon ;  Treasurer,  E.  M.  Reardon; 
City  Judge,  C.  P.  Smith;  Chief  of  Police,  C.  E.  Corn- 
well  ;  Assistant,  S.  H.  Beard ;  Captain,  T.  P.  Keehan ; 
Collector,  T.  P.  Scott;  Deputy  Collector,  Ed  Pitt- 
man;  Occupation  Tax  Collector,  J.  S.  Metcalf;  As- 
sessor, Ben  Melton;  Deputies,  E.  H.  Happel  and  G. 
W.   Crutcher;  Engineer,  H.  B.  Rains;     Assistant, 
Leon  Dalton;  Superintendent  Water  Works,  J.  M. 
Strong;  Secretary  Water  Works,  R.  R.  Nelms;  In- 
spectors Water  Works,  Chas.  A.  Capps,  Thomas  Mc- 
Graw and  J.  Boll;  Health  Officer,  J.  H.  Florence; 
Chief  Fire  Department,     H.  F.  McGee;     Assistant 
Chief,  John  W.  Ryan;  Electrician,  W.  A.  Fraser; 
Street    Superintendent,    J.    C.    Woodside;    Janitor, 
Isaac  Leonard  (col.).     Aldermen:  Max  Hahn,  T.  J. 
Barry,  Henry  Hamilton,  Leo  Wolfson,  J.  S.  Calla- 
han, Theo.  Beilharz,  A.  P.  Black,  D.  R.  Long,  H.  G. 
Brady,  H.  L.  Hancock,  Ed  Foy,  W.  H.  Lincecum. 


226  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

Board  of  Commissioners :  A.  J.  Brown,  B.  N.  Boren 
and  the  Mayor. 

1900 :  Mayor,  Ben  Cabell ;  Mayor  pro  tern,  Henry 
Hamilton;  City  Attorney,  W.  P.  Ellison;  Assistant, 
J.  J.  Collins;  Auditor,  James  B.  Reese;  Secretary, 
I.  A.  Moore;  Treasurer,  E.  M.  Reardon;  City  Judge, 
C.  P.  Smith ;  Chief  of  Police,  G.  E.  Cornwell ;  Assist- 
ant, E.  F.  Gates;  Collector,  Ford  House;  Deputy,  J. 
S.  Robison ;  Occupation  Tax  Collector,  G.  V.  Peak ; 
Assessor,  B.  M.  Melton;  Deputies,  E.  T.  Hutching- 
ton,  L.  L.  Bristol ;  Engineer,  Hugh  B.  Rains ;  As- 
sistant, E.  L.  Dalton;  Superintendent  Water  Works, 
J.  M.  Strong;  Secretary  Water  Works,  R.  R.  Nelms; 
Water  Inspector,  Chas.  S.  Swindell ;  City  Plumbing 
Inspector,  Jacob  Boll ;  City  Plumber,  Thos.  McGraw ; 
Sewer  Inspector,  Peter  Ross;  Health  Officer,  J.  H. 
Florence;  Chief  Fire  Department,  H.  F.  McGee; 
Assistant,  J.  W.  Ryan;  Electrician,  W.  A.  Fraser; 
Street  Superintendent,  0.  Lacuture;  Janitor,  Isaac 
Leonard.  Aldermen:  1st  Ward,  Max  Hahn;  2nd 
Ward,  F.  J.  Barry;  3rd  Ward,  Henry  Hamilton;  4th 
Ward,  Leo  Wolf  son;  5th  Ward,  J.  S.  Callahan;  6th 
Ward,  Theo.  Beilharz;  7th  Ward,  A.  P.  Black;  8th 
Ward,  D.  R.  Long;  9th  Ward,  H.  G.  Brady;  10th 
Ward,  H.  L.  Hancock;  11th  Ward,  Ed  Foy;  12th 
Ward,  W.  H.  Lincecum.  Board  of  Commissioners: 
A.  J.  Brown,  Benj.  N.  Boren  and  the  Mayor. 

1901 :  Mayor,  Ben  E.  Cabell ;  Mayor  pro  tern,  D. 
R.  Long;  City  Attorney,  Will  T.  Henry;  Assistant, 
J.  J.  Collins;  Auditor,  J.  K.  Reese;  Secretary,  I.  A. 
Moore;  Treasurer,  E.  M.  Reardon;  City  Judge,  E. 
G.  Bower;  Chief  of  Police,  Sterling  Price;  Assist- 
ant, E.  F.  Gates;  Collector,  Sam  Taber;  Deputy,  P. 
H.  Talley;  Occupation  Tax  Collector,  J.  A.  Meek; 
Assessor,  B.  M.  Melton ;  Deputy  Assessor,  L.  L.  Bris- 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  227 

tol ;  Engineer,  Hugh  B.  Rains ;  Assistant,  Leon  Dal- 
ton;  Superintendent  Water  Works,  John  J.  Con- 
roy;  Secretary,  R.  R.  Nelms;  City  Water  Works  In- 
spector, W.  A.  Fanning;  City  Plumbing  Inspector, 
Jacob  Boll;  Health  Officer,  J.  H.  Florence;  Chief  of 
Fire  Department,  H.  F.  McGee;  Assistant,  J.  W. 
Ryan;  Electrician,  S.  G.  Anderson;  Street  Superin- 
tendent, W.  S.  Wilson ;  Superintendent  Sanitary  De- 
partment, F.  L.  Coe;  Janitor,  Addison  Gaston  (col.). 
Aldermen :  Ben  Irelson,  F.  J.  Barry,  D.  H.  Lindsley, 

C.  A.  Gill,  J.  F.  Callahan,  A.  C.  Ardrey,  A.  P.  Black, 

D.  R.  Long;  District,  Wm.  Illingworth,  H.  L.  Han- 
cock, T.  L.  Lawhon,  Julian  Capers.  Board  of  Com- 
missioners :  Mayor,  Bennett  Hill,  D.  F.  Sullivan. 

1902:   Mayor,  Ben  E.   Cabell;  Mayor  pro  tern, 
A.  P.  Black ;  Attorney,  Will  T.  Henry ;  Assistant  City 
Attorney,   James   J.    Collins;      Auditor,   James   R. 
Reese;  Secretary,  A.  Moore;  Treasurer,  E.  M.  Rear- 
don;  City  Judge,  Chas.  T.  Morris;  Chief  of  Police, 
Sterling  Price;  Collector,  Sam  Taber;  Assessor,  B. 
M.  Melton ;  Engineer,  Hugh  B.  Rains ;  Superintend- 
ent Water  Works,  John  J.  Conroy ;  Secretary,  R.  R. 
Nelms;  City  Plumbing  Inspector,  Jacob  Boll;  City 
Plumber,    Thomas  H.   McGraw;    Sewer  Inspector, 
Peter  Ross;  Health  Officer,  J.   H.   Florence;  Elec- 
trician, S.  G.  Anderson;  Street  Superintendent,  W. 
S.  Wilson;  Superintendent  Sanitary  Department,  T. 
L.  Coe;  Superintendent  Parks,  Robert  Tietze.     Al- 
dermen: Ben  Irelson,  F.  J.  Barry,  D.  H.  Lindsley, 
C.  A.  Gill,  J.  F.  Callahan,  C.  S.  Swindells,  A.  P. 
Black,  D.  R.  Long,  District,  W.  Illingsworth,  H.  L. 
Hancock,  B.  T.  Lawhon,  Julian  Capers.     Board  of 
Commissioners:   Mayor,  Bennett  Hill,  D.  F.  Sulli- 


van. 


1903:   Mayor,  Ben  Cabell;  City  Attorney,  Will 
T.  Henry ;  Assistant  City  Attorney,  James  J.  Collins ; 


228  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

Auditor,  James  R.  Reese;  Secretary,  I.  A.  Moore; 
Treasurer,  Royal  A.  Ferris;  City  Judge,  Curtis  P. 
Smith;  Chief  of  Police,  R.  L.  Winfrey;  Collector, 
Sam  Taber ;  Assessor,  B.  M.  Melton ;  Engineer,  Hugh 
B.  Rains;  Superintendent  Water  Works,  John  J. 
Conroy;  Secretary  Water  Works,  R.  R.  Nelms;  City 
Plumbing  Inspector,  Jacob  Boll;  City  Plumber, 
Thomas  H.  McGraw ;  Sewer  Inspector,  Peter  Ross ; 
Health  Officer,  J.  H.  Smart;  Chief  of  Fire  Depart- 
ment, H.  F.  McGee;  Assistant  Chief,  T.  A.  Myers; 
Electrician,  S.  G.  Anderson;  Street  Superintendent, 
Wm.  S.  Wilson;  Building  Inspector,  D.  C.  McCorcl, 
Jr. ;  Superintendent  of  Sanitary  Department,  Frank 
L.  Coe ;  Chief  Sanitary  Inspector,  B.  B.  Linskie ;  Su- 
perintendent Parks,  Robert  Tietze.  Aldermen :  Ben 
Irelson,  W.  G.  Edwards,  J.  W.  Shanks,  C.  A.  Gill, 
J.  F.  Callahan,  G.  C.  Morgan,  C.  C.  Lane,  G.  H. 
Irish;  in  district,  Wm.  Illingworth,  H.  L.  Hancock, 
James  Moroney,  H.  G.  Brady.  Commissioners :  Ben- 
nett Hill,  D.  F.  Sullivan  and  the  Mayor. 

1904:  Mayor,  Bryan  T.  Barry;  City  Attorney, 
James  J.  Collins;  Auditor,  Chas.  T.  Morriss;  Secre- 
tary, Joseph  N.  'Winslett ;  Treasurer,  Royal  A.  Fer- 
ris; City  Judge,  C.  P.  Smith;  Chief  of  Police,  Epps 
G.  Knight;  Collector,  Sam  Taber;  Assessor,  Ben 
Melton;  Engineer,  Hugh  B.  Rains;  Superintendent 
Water  Works,  Thomas  McGraw ;  Secretary,  R.  R. 
Nelms;  City  Plumbing  Inspector,  Jacob  Boll;  Sewer 
Inspector,  Peter  Ross;  Health  Officer,  J.  H.  Smart; 
Chief  Fire  Department,  H.  F.  McGee;  Assistant,  T. 
A.  Myers;  Electrician,  S.  G.  Anderson;  Street  Su- 
perintendent, R.  P.  Sanderson ;  Building  Inspector, 
D.  C.  McCord,Jr. ;  Superintendent  Sanitary  Depart- 
ment, Frank  L.  Coe ;  Chief  Inspector,  H.  B.  Linskie ; 
Superintendent  Parks,  Robert  Tietze.  Aldermen : 
Joseph  Leroy,  W.  G.  Edwards,  J.  E.  Flanders,  J. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  229 

F.  Callahan,  C.  H.  Read,  Wallie  Felton,  G.  H.  Irish, 
Chas.  Steinmann,  Ben  Irelson;  District,  J.  Howard 
Ardrey;  District,  T.  L.  Lawhon;  District,  C.  A.  Gill. 
Commissioners :  Bennett  Hill,  D.  F.  Sullivan  and  the 
Mayor. 

1905:  Mayor,  B.  T.  Barry;  Mayor  pro  tern,  J. 
Howard  Ardrey;  Attorney,  J.  J.  Collins;  Auditor, 
Chas.   T.   Morriss;   Secretary,  Joseph  B.  Winslett; 
Treasurer,  E.  J.  Gannon;  City  Judge,  C.  P.  Smith; 
Chief  of  Police,  Epps  G.  Knight ;  Collector,  Sam  Ta- 
ber;  Assessor,  B.  M.  Melton;  Engineer,  E.  L.  Dalton; 
Superintendent  Water  Works,  D.  F.  Sullivan;  Sec- 
retary Water  Works,  R.  R.  Nelms;  Assistant  Secre- 
tary Water  Works,  James  B.  Simpson,  Jr.;  Engi- 
neer of  Distribution,  W.  J.  M.  Preston ;  City  Plumb- 
ing Inspector,  Jacob  Boll;  Sewer .  Inspector,  Peter 
Ross;  Health  Officer,  J.  H.  Smart;  Superintendent 
Fire  Department,   H.   F.   McGee;   Assistant  Chief, 
T.   S.   Myers;   Electrician,   S.   G.  Anderson;   Street 
Superintendent,  I.  B.  Sira;  Building  Inspector,  L. 
L.   Bristol;     Superintendent  Sanitary  Department, 
Frank  L.  Coe;  Chief  Sanitary  Inspector,  A.  S.  De- 
Lee  ;  Superintendent  Parks,  Robert  Tietze ;  Board  of 
Appeals,  C.  H.  Huvelle,  S.  M.  Leftwich,  C.  M.  Bolles, 
Aldermen :  Joseph  Leroy,  W.  G.  Edwards,  J.  A.  Pon- 
drom,  J.  E.  Flanders,  J.  F.  Callahan,  G.  H.  Irish, 
Chas.   Steinmann,  Thomas  F.  Lewis,  Ben  Irelson; 
District,  J.  Howard  Ardrey,  T.  L.  Lawhon,  C.  A. 
Gill.    Board  of  Commissioners :  A.  B.  Flanary,  Louis 
Blaylock  and  the  Mayor. 

1906:  Mayor,  C.  P.  Smith;  Mayor  pro  tern,  W. 

D.  Burke;  Attorney,  J.  J.  Collins;  Auditor,  C.  T. 
Morriss;  Secretary,  Joseph  B.  Winslett;  Treaurer, 

E.  J.  Gannon;  City  Judge,  H.  B.  Wililams;  Clerk 
City  Court,  Frank  Rainey;  Chief  of  Police,  R.  P. 
Keith;  Collector,  Sam  Taber;  Assessor,  B.  M.  Mel- 


230  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

ton;  Engineer,  E.  L.  Dalton;  Superintendent  Water 
Works,  R.  R.  Nelms ;  Secretary  Water  Works,  James 
E.  Record;  Assistant  Secretary  Water  Works,  James 

B.  Simpson,  Jr. ;  Engineer  of  Distribution,  W.  J.  M. 
Preston ;  Chief  Engineer  of  Water  Works,  J.  M.  Bas- 
sett;  City  Plumbing  Inspector,  Jacob  Boll;  Sewer 
Inspector,  Peter  Ross;  Health  Officer,  T.  B.  Fisher; 
Superintendent  Fire  Department,  H.  F.  McGee;  As- 
sistant Chief,  T.  A.  Myers;  Electrician,  S.  G.  Ander- 
son; Street  Superintendent,  I.  B.  Sira;  Building  In- 
spector, L.  L.  Bristol;  Superintendent  Sanitary  De- 
partment, Frank  L.  Coe;  Chief  Sanitary  Inspector, 
A.  S.  DeLee ;  Superintendent  Parks,  Robert  Tietze ; 
Board  of  Appeals,  C.  H.  Huvelle,  S.  M.  Leftwich, 

C.  M.  Bolles.  Board  of  Commissioners :  C.  P.  Smith, 
A.  B.  Flanary,  H.  0.  Samuels. 

1907-8:  Mayor,  S.  J.  Hay;  Commissioners:  Har- 
ry L.  Seay,  Police  and  Fire  Commissioner ;  Wm.  Do- 
ran,  Street  Commissioner  and  Commissioner  of  Pub- 
lic Property;  Dan  F.  Sullivan,  Water  and  Sewerage 
Commissioner;  C.  B.  Gillespie,  Commissioner  Fi- 
nance and  Revenue;  J.  B.  Winslett,  City  Secretary; 
J.  J.  Fannin,  Secretary  to  Board  of  Commissioners ; 
J.  J.  Collins,  City  Attorney;  J.  M.  Preston,  City  En- 
gineer, has  just  succeeded  E.  M.  Dalton ;  W.  T.  Hen- 
derson, City  Auditor;  R.  R.  Nelms,  Secretary  and 
Collector  Water  Department;  Ben  Melton,  Tax  As- 
sessor and  Collector;  W.  L.  Mathis,  Judge  Corpora- 
tion Court;  B.  F.  Brandenburg,  Chief  of  Police; 
Chas.  Graham,  City  Electrician;  T.  B.  Fisher,  City 
Physician;  L.  L.  Bristol,  City  Building  Inspector; 
I.  B.  Sira,  Street  Superintendent;  F.  L.  Coe,  Super- 
intendent Sanitary  Department. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  231 

POPULATION  OF  THE  CITY  OF  DALLAS 

AND  DALLAS  COUNTY 

The  population  of  Dallas  was  small  in  1861, 
probably  1,000;  that  includes  slaves. 

Population  of  Dallas  County,  United  States  Cen- 
sus Report,  in  the  year  1850 2,743 

In  the  year  1859,  not  the  Government  report, 

white 7,729 

Negro  slaves 1,080 

In  the  year  1860,  Government  report 8,665 

In  the  year  1870,  Government  report 13,314 

In  the  year  1880,  Government  report 33,448 

In  the  year  1890,  Government  report 67,042 

In  the  year  1900,  Government  report 82,726 

In  the  year  1872,  City 1,500 

In  the  year  1873,  City 2,063 

In  the  year  1880,  City 10,358 

Population  in  1890 38,067 

Population  in  1900 42,638 

Population  by  Worley  for  Directory,  1907 .  .  77,678 

In  addition  just  outside  of  city  limits 3,702 

The  first  Mayor  elected  in  1856  received  58  votes. 
His  competitor,  A.  A.  Rice,  received  34  votes. 

The  election  in  the  County,  Aug.  31,  1850,  for  the 
permanent  location  of  the  County  Seat  of  Dallas,  the 
result  was : 

Hord's  Ridge,  now  Oak  Cliff 216 

Dallas    244 

A  majority  of 28 

There  was  some  excitement  in  this  election,  and 
the  County  was  well  canvassed  in  a  former  election. 
Cedar  Springs  was  a  candidate  and  received  101 
votes,  Dallas  191,  Hord's  Ridge  178. 


232  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

The  official  municipal  history  of  Dallas  in  its 
personnel  has  thus  been  given  from  the  beginning 
in  1856  to  1908,  a  period  of  fifty-two  years,  and  the 
personnel  of  the  Mayors  from  1856  to  1908,  and 
the  voting  population  has  increased  from  92  to  12,- 
742  legal  voters  in  1908.  A  few  of  the  minor  mat- 
ters and  official  positions  have  been  omitted,  since 
1887.  It  is  a  compilation  well  worth  preserving,  and 
in  the  time  to  come  in  the  days  of  those  grand  frui- 
tions which  to  all  human  appearances  are  in  store 
for  John  Neely  Bryan  section  and  John  Grigsby 
league  and  labor,  they  will  be  held  as  invaluable 
memorials  of  the  early  times  and  struggles  of  those 
who  have  gone  before  to  found  on  this  favored  spot, 
at  least  speaking  comparatively  in  this  day  of  suc- 
cessive marvels  in  the  movement  of  population,  a 
great  inland  seat  of  commerce,  manufactures,  schools 
and  colleges  and  all  those  industries  which  in  modern 
times  pertain  to  such  an  aggregation  of  enlightened 
humanity  in  a  country  blessed  by  nature  and  by  the 
Ruler  of  all,  despite  an  interval  of  disorder  and 
usurpation,  blessed  with  free  Democratic  institu- 
tions under  which  liberty  reigns. 


DISTRICT  JUDGES  OF  DALLAS  COUNTY, 
1840  TO  1908 

The  following  District  Judges  reside  elsewhere 
and  have  a  large  district,  presided  successively  in 
Dallas  from  the  fall  of  1846  to  the  year  1856 :  Wil- 
liam B.  Ochiltree  held  the  first  Court  in  1846,  fol- 
lowed by  Amos  Clark  in  1847 ;  Bennett  H.  Martin 
served  in  1848,  then  Oran  M.  Roberts  came  on  ii: 
1850,  and  in  1853  John  H.  Reagan  served,  and  in 
1856  the  new  District  was  created,  and  Nat  M.  Bur- 
ford  elected  and  held  the  office  until  the  spring  of 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  233 

1862 ;  John  W.  Ferris  of  Ellis  County  was  then  elect- 
ed, and  held  until  the  election,  under  the  Constitu- 
tion of  1860,  but  R.  W.  Scott  convened  Court  and 
presided  one  term,  to  October,  1866. 

The  Criminal  District  Court  of  Dallas,  McKin- 
ney  and  Sherman,  created  by  Act  of  the  Legislature, 
passed  June  4,  1873.  Silas  Hare  of  Sherman  ap- 
pointed Judge  and  held  Court  until  the  office  was 
abolished  by  the  Constitution  of  1876. 


DISTRICT  JUDGES  OF  DALLAS  COUNTY, 
1846  TO  1887. 

The  following  District  Judges  resided  elsewhere, 
and  having  a  large  district,  presided  successively 
in  Dallas  from  the  fall  of  '46  to  the  year  '56 :  Wil- 
liam B.  Ochiltree   (1846)   held  the  first  Court,  fol- 
lowed in  1847  by  Amos  Clark;  Bennett  H.  Martin 
served  in  1848 ;  Oran  M.  Roberts,  1850 ;  J.  H.  Rea- 
gan, 1853,  of  the  new  district  created  in  the  begin- 
ning of  1856.     Nat  M.  Burford  was  elected  Judge 
and  held  office  until  the  spring  of  1862.     John  W. 
Ferris  of  Ellis  County  was  then  elected  and  held 
until  the  election  under  the  Constituiton  of  1866, 
when  John  J.  Good  of  Dallas  was  then  chosen,  and 
served  until  removed  by  military  authority  as  an 
impediment  to  reconstruction.     In  December,  1867, 
D.  O.  Norton,  of  ParkerCounty,  was  appointed  in 
his  place,  and  in  November,  1868  (having  died)  A. 
B.  Norton  of  Dallas  was  appointed,  and  it  is  but 
simple  justice  to  say  that  both  the  people  and  the 
bar  gave  him  credit  of  being  a  fair  and  impartial 
Judge.    He  served  until  1870,  when  Gov.  Davis  ap- 
pointed a  stranger  named  C.   T.   Garland,  and  in 
May,  1871,  Hardin  Hart,  who  resigned  in  the  spring 
of  1873,  and  was  succeeded  by  Hickerson  Barksdale 
of  Dallas. 


234  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

Nat  M.  Burforcl  was  elected  in  1876,  and  served 
until  July,  1877,  when  he  resigned,  and  Gov.  Hub- 
bard appointed  Zimri  Hunt  to  fill  the  unexpired 
term.  In  1878  George  N.  Aldredge  was  elected,  and 
held  the  office  until  1888.  Judge  Burke  succeeded 
Aldredge,  and  served  two  terms,  Fourteenth  Dis- 
trict, until  1896.  Then  Judge  W.  J.  J.  Smith  was 
elected,  and  served  from  December,  1896,  to  Janu- 
ary, 1900,  and  resigned,  and  Judge  Eckford  was  ap- 
pointed and  served  balance  of  term.  Then  Judge 
Nash  was  elected,  and  is  now  in  office 

The  Court  was  divided  in  1889,  and  Judge  Tuck- 
er was  appointed  and  the  Fourty-Fourth  Judicial 
District  created,  and  served  until  1890.  He  was 
then  elected  without  opposition  and  served  until 
1893,  and  resigned,  and  Judge  Gray  was  appointed 
and  served  balance  of  the  term.  Then  elected  and 
served  until  1898.  Then  Judge  Morgan  was  elected 
and  served  until  his  death.  Then  Judge  E.  B.  Muse 
was  appointed,  and  is  now  holding  the  office. 


CRIMINAL  COURT 

In  1890  the  population  of  Dallas  County  was  67,- 
042,  the  city  38,067,  a  gain  in  the  city  of  27,709  in 
ten  years,  and  the  county  had  just  doubled.  In 
1893  a  separate  Criminal  Court  was  created,  and 
Judge  Chas.  F.  Clint  was  appointed,  and  presided 
over  that  Court  for  one  year,  and  in  1894  he  was 
elected  and  served  two  terms,  until  1902 ;  then  Judge 
E.  B.  Muse  was  elected  and  served  four  years,  and 
was  returned  in  1906,  and  resigned  in  February, 
1907.    Judge  R.  R.  Nelms  is  serving  by  appointment. 

We  have  the  following  Courts  in  Dallas : 
Fourteenth    Judicial    Court,    presided    over    by 
Judge  T.  F.  Nash. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  235 

Forty-Fourth  Judicial  Court,  presided  over  by 
Judge  E.  B.  Muse. 

The  Criminal  Court,  presided  over  by  W.  W. 
Nelms. 

In  1907  there  was  another  County  Court  cre- 
ated, and  Judge  W.  M.  Holland  was  elected,  and 
now  presides  over  that  court.  The  amount  of  busi- 
ness had  so  increased  and  so  much  probate  business 
to  be  attended  to  that  it  was  impossible  for  one 
Court  to  transact  all  the  business. 

The  County  and  Probate  Court,  presided  over 
by  H.  F.  Lively. 

Justice  Court,  Precinct  No.  1,  presided  over  by 
W.  M.  Edwards. 

Justice  Court,  Precinct  No.  1,  presided  over  by 
John  F.  Williams. 

City  Court,  presided  over  by  Judge  W.  L.  Mathis. 

Court  of  Criminal  Appeals,  presided  over  by 
W.  L.  Davidson,  M.  M.  Brooks  and  W.  T.  Ramsey, 
Associates  Justice. 

Court  of  Civil  Appeals,  Anson  Rainey,  Chief 
Justice;  Howard  Templeton  and  John  Bookhout, 
Associate  Justices. 

Federal  Court,  presided  over  by  Judge  E.  R. 
Meek. 

Commissioners'  Court,  Hiram  F.  Lively,  Judge; 
Commissioners,  R.  W.  Eaton,  District  1 ;  H.  H.  Ben- 
nett, District  2;  C.  D.  Smith,  District  3;  W.  H.  Pip- 
pin, District  4. 


236  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

COURT  HOUSES 

The  first  Court  House  built  in  Dallas  County 
was  in  1850.  Size  16x32  feet,  and  nine  feet  from 
floor  to  ceiling,  with  a  partition  in  the  center  mak- 
ing two  rooms,  with  a  stack  chimney  built  of  stone 
with  a  fire-place  in  each  room.  The  outside  walls 
were  weatherboarded  with  four-foot  boards,  well 
shaved,  one  door  of  the  usual  size  in  each  room,  with 
good  beaten  shutter,  with  book-case  in  each  room 
alongside  the  chimney.  In  1855  there  was  a  con- 
tract let  to  Moore  &  Wilkes  to  build  another  Court 
House.  The  plans  for  this  new  Court  House  were 
drawn  by  John  G.  Wood,  J.  M.  Patterson  and  others, 
and  it  was  built  out  of  the  best  brick  that  could  be 
manufactured  in  the  County.  Said  house  was  50 
feet  square,  and  two  stories  high,  and  covered  with 
lead  roofing,  and  all  the  wood  was  pine  except 
sleepers  and  joists,  that  were  of  oak.  There  was  a 
brick  chimney  in  each  corner  of  the  house.  This 
was  considered  a  magnificent  structure  at  that  time. 
Dallas  County  held  her  courts  in  this  building  for 
fifteen  or  sixteen  years. 

In  1871  this  Court  House  was  condemned  as 
unsafe,  and  sold  for  a  very  small  sum,  and  in  1871 
another  Court  House  was  built  on  the  same  ground. 
White  stone,  quarried  in  this  County,  was  used  for 
the  construction  of  this  building.  It  was  two  stories 
high,  and  made  a  very  pretty  building. 

In  1880  this  building  was  partially  destroyed  by 
fire,  the  four  walls  being  all  that  remained  after 
the  fire.  The  walls  being  good,  another  story  was 
added,  and  the  building  presented  a  very  beautiful 
appearance.  But  again  in  1890  this  building  was 
destroyed  by  fire,  and  nothing  left  but  the  charred 
and  ruined  walls  of  Dallas  County's  fourth  Court 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  237 

House.  It  is  fortunate  for  Dallas  County  that  the 
records  have  been  preserved.  After  the  destruction 
of  this  house  Dallas  County  decided  to  build  a  fine 
Court  House,  and  the  present  structure  is  second  to 
none  in  the  State,  built  on  the  same  ground  that 
has  been  used  for  that  purpose  nearly  sixty  years. 
If  I  remember  right,  John  Neely  Bryan  gave  to  the 
County  ninety-three  lots  50x100  feet  for  the  location 
of  the  county  seat  at  Dallas.  These  lots  are  situated 
around  the  Court  House  and  where  the  Court  House 
stands,  and  five  Commissioners  were  appointed  to 
sell  the  lots  for  the  County,  and  soon  after  the  elec- 
tion, which  took  place  August  5th,  1850,  the  Com- 
missioners, J.  A.  Smith,  R.  J.  West,  Amon  M.  Comas, 
W.  J.  Walker  and  Micajah  Goodwin,  advertised  the 
lots,  and  the  days  of  sale.  They  were  sold  at  auction 
to  the  highest  bidder,  and  the  prices  ranged  from 
ten  to  sixty  dollars,  and  only  one  that  sold  for  sixty 
dollars  and  fifty  cents,  and  a  very  few  that  went  as 
high  as  thirty  dollars.  There  were  four  lots  sold  for 
fiftv  dollars  each. 


238  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

The  Yellowstone  Park 

A  special  imprint  of  divinity  by  Almighty  God 
has  been  stamped  on  this  wonderland,  and  there  is  a 
very  small  per  cent,  of  our  people  that  realize  what  a 
treasure  we  possess,  a  marvelous  section  of  our  earth 
eight  thousand  feet  above  the  sea  level,  and  nearly  as 
large  as  Dallas,  Denton  and  Collin  counties.  Three 
sides  of  it  is  guarded  by  lofty  and  almost  inaccessible 
mountains.  I  visited  this,  our  National  Park,  in 
August,  1907.  This  visit  gave  me  great  pleasure  and 
happiness.  I  looked  upon  some  wonderful  sights  day 
after  day,  and  the  more  I  saw  the  more  interesting 
it  became.  It  looks  like  one  vast  amphitheater,  near- 
ly surrounded  by  mountain  peaks,  and  their  snow- 
capped summits  glisten  in  the  sun  and  look  grand 
and  sublime.  The  mountains  principally  are  brand- 
ed with  fire  and  seem  to  be  volcanic  in  their  origin. 
They  are  symbolic  of  the  entire  park.  Fire  and  water 
are  the  two  great  forces  which  have  for  ages  strug- 
gled for  supremacy. 

It  was  a  great  surprise  to  me,  as  we  drove  up  to 
the  great  hotel.  The  broad  piazza  was  immense, 
forty  feet  broad  and  four  hundred  feet  in  length,  and 
accommodation  equal  to  the  modern  hotels  of  our 
cities,  clean  and  comfortable  beds,  and  a  complete 
service.  A  staff  of  waiters  in  the  dining  room,  a  bell 
boy  service.  They  manufacture  their  own  electric- 
ity, and  at  the  proper  time  every  thing  is  lit  up  with 
a  blaze  of  electric  light.  I  stopped  a  part  of  two  days 
and  one  night  at  the  Old  Faithful  Inn.  I  had  heard 
it  spoken  of,  but  I  was  not  prepared  for  such  a  sur- 
prise. The  entire  building  is  of  logs,  and  has  over 
two  hundred  rooms,  and  its  cost  was  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  Its  broad  piazza  and  spacious  sit- 
ting room  and  large  dining  hall  capable  of  seating  a 
hundred  and  fifty  or  two  hundred  people.     The  sit- 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  239 

ting  room  had  an  immense  stack  chimney  in  the  cen- 
ter, with  a  fire  place  on  every  side,  four  very  large 
fire  places.  The  chairs  are  all  rustic,  and  very  com- 
fortable. This  Old  Faithful  Inn  is  situated  in  one  of 
the  most  interesting  parts  of  this  wonderland.  With- 
in one-half  mile  there  are  as  many  as  thirty  geysers, 
and  as  many  as  fifteen  or  sixteen  have  been  observed 
in  action  at  the  same  time.  Many  of  these  geysers 
during  the  past  ages  have  built  up  for  themselves 
cones  or  funnels  with  the  minerals  contained  in  the 
boiling  water  and  oftentimes  they  look  like  an  old 
ruin  or  rock  with  no  indication  of  activity  whatever. 
But  at  intervals  they  throw  up  a  large  volume  of 
boiling  water  and  steam,  and  some  of  these  volcanic 
fountains  will  play  for  nearly  half  an  hour  before 
their  contents  are  discharged. 

Some  of  the  geysers  seem  to  be  losing  their  pow- 
er. I  think  the  Old  Faithful  geyser  is  waning,  but 
is  still  a  wonder.  The  Old  Faithful  geyser  and  the 
Beehive  are  situated  only  about  three  or  four  hun- 
dred yards  apart.  The  Old  Faithful  throws  up  an 
immense  volume  of  boiling  water  every  sixty  or 
seventy  minutes.  It  is  said  it  never  exceeds  seventy 
minutes,  an  amount  that  would  furnish  water  for  a 
city  as  large  or  larger  than  the  city  of  Dallas.  The 
Beehive  is  not  so  regular  in  its  habits  and  will  some- 
times go  for  thirty  or  forty  days,  and  when  in  action 
the  water  is  thrown  to  a  height  of  one  hundred  and 
eighty  to  two  hundred  feet  high. 

Within  the  area  of  the  active  geysers  is  a  place 
called  Hell's  Half  Acre,  and  it  has  the  right  name. 
Rough  perpendicular  ledges  project,  from  which 
clouds  of  steam  are  constantly  arising,  and  when  the 
wind  blows  back  these  sulphur  laden  fumes  the  vis- 
itor can  look  down  and  see  a  boiling  lake  below. 

John  L.  Stoddard  says : 

Suddenly  in  1881  the  underlying  force  hurled  the 


240  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

entire  lake  up  bodily  to  a  height  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty  feet,  and  repeated  these  eruption  frequently. 
After  some  months  the  exhibition  ceased,  and  it  was 
again  calm  for  seven  years,  and  in  1888  it  burst 
forth  again  with  such  prodigious  force  that  it  threw 
up  more  water  than  all  the  other  geysers  in  the  Park 
combined,  and  tons  of  rock  were  thrown  up  with  the 
water  more  than  two  hundred  feet  high.  There  is 
no  telling  when  this  sleeping  giant  will  be  aroused 
again.  Here  within  the  circumference  of  half  a  mile 
there  are  three  geysers,  one  playing  every  seventy 
minutes,  one  every  thirty  or  forty  days  and  the  other 
seven  years  apart.  Will  scientists  please  explain? 
The  Old  Faithful  is  a  favorite  with  the  tourists.  The 
opening  through  which  this  miracle  of  nature 
springs  is  at  the  summit  of  a  beautiful  mound  that 
has  been  gradually  formed,  and  its  ancient  and  griz- 
zled look  tells  of  a  past  whose  secrets  still  remain  a 
mystery,  and  we  contemplate  and  look  on  this  won- 
der with  bated  breath.  The  entire  slope  has  been 
built  up  gradually,  atom  after  atom,  through  many 
ages,  during  which  time,  no  doubt,  the  geyser  hour 
by  hour  has  faithfully  performed  its  part  without  a 
spectator  to  note  its  splendor  or  a  tourist  to  sing  its 
praises  to  the  world. 

Old  Faithful  does  not  owe  its  popularity  to  its 
height  or  beauty.  It  is  beloved  for  its  regularity. 
Whatever  irregularities  the  other  geysers  may  have, 
the  Old  Faithful  never  fails.  Day  and  night,  winter 
and  summer,  year  in  and  year  out,  in  cold  and  heat, 
sunshine  and  in  storm,  every  seventy  minutes  it 
sends  up  an  immense  volume  of  boiling  water  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  or  two  hundred  feet  high,  and  of  all 
the  geysers  known  to  man  this  is  the  most  reliable 
and  perfect.  During  my  stay  there  I  have  noted 
its  regularity.  As  we  went  through  Hell's  Half  Acre 
our  guide  was  with  us,  and  pointed  out  many  dan- 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  241 

gerous  places.  The  earth  was  hot  and  in  many  places 
the  crust  was  thin,  and  many  holes  of  boiling  water 
or  paint  pots.  They  are  beautiful  pools  of  boiling 
water.  It  is  almost  inconceivable  to  those  that  have 
never  seen  them.  No  description  can  do  them  jus- 
tice. No  photographer  can  reproduce  them,  and  no 
artist's  brush  can  portray  their  peculiar  coloring. 
Their  hues  are  varied,  and  as  I  looked  on  them  with 
wonder  and  admiration  I  thought  it  was  the  most 
beautiful  sight  that  I  had  ever  beheld,  and  at  night 
we  could  look  out  over  this  great  valley  of  geysers 
and  see  them  rise  and  fall  with  almost  ceaseless  reg- 
ularity, a  scene  unequaled  in  the  world. 

In  the  upper  basin  we  found  what  is  known  as 
the  Mammoth  Paint  Pot.  The  earth  around  it  is 
cracked  and  blistered  by  heat.  This  Paint  Pot  looks 
like  an  enormous  caldron  of  hot  mush,  of  varied  tints 
of  color,  and  it  looked  like  a  huge  vat  where  skilled 
painters  had  been  engaged  in  mixing  their  colors. 
There  is  also  a  horrible  object  known  as  the  Mud 
Geyser,  and  by  crawling  up  a  steep  bank  we  could 
look  down  into  the  crater.  Its  ugly  mouth  was  twelve 
or  fiften  feet  in  diameter,  and  a  throat  some  six 
feet  in  diameter,  and  of  an  unknown  depth.  His 
throat  was  filled  with  boiling  mud,  which  rose  and 
fell  in  sickening  gulps  as  if  the  monster  was  strang- 
ling from  the  slimy  mixture,  which  all  its  efforts 
could  not  possibly  dislodge.  Occasionally  the  sicken- 
ing mixture  would  sink  from  view  as  if  the  strang- 
ling wretch  had  swallowed  it;  then  could  be  heard, 
hundreds  of  feet  below,  a  retching  a  strangling  and 
pumping,  and  in  a  few  moments  it  would  come  up 
again,  belched  out  with  such  explosive  force  that  a 
boiling  spray  of  mud  was  thrown  so  high  that  those 
standing  near  had  to  scramble  to  get  out  of  the  way. 
A  single  drop  of  it  would  have  burned  like  molten 
lava. 


242  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

Here  we  could  hear  a  roaring  sound  like  the 
steam  escaping  from  a  great  trans-Atlantic  liner, 
and  we  moved  on  towards  the  growling  noise,  and 
at  last  we  reached  the  cause — a  mass  of  steam  that 
rushed  through  an  opening  in  the  ground.  This  is 
surrounded  by  a  rock  as  black  as  jet,  and  it  is  called 
the  Black  Growler,  and  when  near  it  a  person  cannot 
hear  his  ears.  A  mass  of  steam  rushes  from  it  day 
and  night,  winter  and  summer,  year  in  and  year  out, 
and  I  have  no  doubt  but  it  has  for  ages,  in  one  un- 
broken volume,  keeping  up  the  same  terrific  roaring. 
But  this  is  not  all.  Volumes  could  be  written  in  de- 
scribing this  wonderland,  and  the  marvels  of  our 
National  Park.  The  most  wonderful  of  them  all  is 
the  world  renowned  Yellowstone  Canyon.  The  in- 
troduction to  this  is  sublime.  It  is  a  waterfall.  The 
entire  volume  of  the  Yellowstone  River  falls  three 
hundred  and  sixty  feet.  The  river  is  compressed 
into  the  narrow  space  of  seventy  feet  and  with  rush 
and  roar  and  maddening  flow  it  leaps  the  precipice 
into  the  yawning  gulf  below.  I,  with  other  tourists, 
went  down  a  flight  of  four  hundred  and  ninety  steps, 
near  the  great  volume  of  water  that  leaped  from 
the  precipice  into  the  gulf  below,  the  spray  bounding 
back  and  producing  a  beautiful  rainbow. 

The  banks  of  the  canyon  are  fifteen  hundred  feet 
high,  and  of  many  different  colors,  much  of  it  a 
bright  yellow  and  red,  white,  lavender  and  green. 
The  ceaseless  roar  of  this  great  volume  of  water 
echoes  and  re-echoes  down  the  Canyon.  It  is  an 
awe-inspiring  scene,  and  looking  at  the  falls  from 
a  distance  they  look  like  a  long,  white  robe,  nearly 
four  hundred  feet  in  length.  The  channel  seems  nar- 
row and  deep,  and  as  we  look  at  it  from  the  platform 
over  the  falls  it  looks  like  a  silver  ribbon  as  it  winds 
its  way  down  the  canyon  and  is  lost  in  the  distance, 
and  the  passing  clouds  almost  perform  a  miracle. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  243 

The  lights  and  shades  that  follow  one  another  down 
the  gorge  vary  in  tints  of  different,  changing  colors. 

There  is  another  striking  feature  in  the  National 
Park — the  petrified  forest.  There  is  a  large  area  that 
solitary  columns  can  be  seen  that  were  once  the 
trunks  of  trees,  but  are  now  solid  stone  shafts.  One 
can  see  by  examining  the  columns  that  they  were 
once  wood.  The  bark  and  rings  can  be  plainly  seen. 
John  L.  Stoddard  says :  This  forest  must  have  been 
submerged  by  a  mineral  deposit,  and  it  is  marvelous 
to  relate  that  to  excavating  on  the  hill  side  many  lay- 
ers of  such  forest  have  been  found,  and  these  forests 
are  divided  by  as  many  layers  of  lava.  Jut  think  of 
the  ages  that  these  different  forests  represent !  There 
is  still  another  wonderful  and  striking  feature  in  the 
National  Park — a  mountain  of  jet  black  glass,  pro- 
duced by  volcanic  fire.    John  L.  Stoddard  says: 

This  glass  is  used  by  the  Indians  for  arrow  heads, 
and  is  known  as  the  Great  Indian  Armory,  and  is 
neutral  ground,  and  here  they  come  for  instruments 
of  war.  The  first  explorers  found  this  mountain  a 
very  difficult  proposition  to  get  over,  John  L.  Stod- 
dard says,  but  when  they  ascertained  what  it  was 
composed  of  they  piled  up  timber  at  the  base  of  the 
mountain  and  set  it  on  fire,  and  when  the  glass  was 
hot  they  threw  water  on  it,  and  it  broke  into  frag- 
ments and  then  with  picks  and  shovels  and  prize 
poles  they  pushed  in  down  into  the  lake,  and  opened 
a  wagon  road  for  a  thousand  feet  in  length. 

When  the  tourists  reach  the  large  hotel  situated 
near  the  banks  of  the  Yellowstone  Lake  they  have  the 
opportunity  of  taking  passage  on  a  steamboat  across 
the  lake  to  the  next  stopping  place.  It  is  a  large 
boat  capable  of  carrying  six  hundred  passengers,  and 
to  appreciate  Lake  Yellowstone  one  should  make  the 
trip  in  the  evening  of  a  clear  day  and  see  the  sunset 
glow.     We  landed  at  one  station  to  see  a  herd  of 


244  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

buffalo  and  elk.  One  of  the  buffaloes  was  said  to 
be  the  largest  in  America,  and  came  from  Texas.  We 
soon  set  sail  again,  and  quite  a  gale  of  wind  was 
blowing,  but  we  reached  our  destination  before  much 
sea  sickness  took  place,  but  had  some  difficulty  in 
making  the  landing.  This  lake  is  the  fisherman's 
paradise,  and  some  of  the  lovers  of  the  sport  have 
said  they  would  rather  be  a  fisherman  here  than 
to  be  an  angel.  The  mountain  trout  are  here  in  abun- 
dance, and  will  weigh  from  one  to  three  pounds. 
They  are  served  at  the  hotels  almost  every  meal. 

There  are  two  steamboats  on  this  like,  one  of 
recent  date  that  is  much  larger  than  the  old  one. 
Imagine  the  labor  required  to  take  this  vessel  such 
a  distance  from  the  end  of  the  railroad !  The  Yellow- 
stone Lake  is  about  eight  thousand  feet  above  the 
sea  level.  The  fleecy  summer  clouds  that  pass  over 
our  heads  daily  in  Texas  are  about  the  same  height 
as  the  steamboats  that  ply  upon  the  bosom  of  this 
wonderful  lake  in  our  National  Park.  There  are 
several  hundred  stage  coaches,  with  four  horses  to 
each  coach.  They  meet  the  trains  regularly,  and 
make  regular  trips  around  the  Park,  and  any  of  the 
tourists  that  wish  to  stop  over  can  do  so,  and  be 
taken  on  the  next  day.  There  are  many  that  camp 
out.  They  generally  employ  a  private  conveyance 
and  take  their  own  time.  The  government  troops 
protect  the  animals,  and  it  is  a  violation  of  law  to 
molest  or  interfere  with  anything  in  the  Park,  and 
a  heavy  penalty  attached.  They  claim  thirty  thou- 
sand elk  and  deer  in  the  Park.  The  bears  are  numer- 
out  and  becoming  quite  gentle.  A  number  of  them 
come  down  out  of  the  mountains  near  the  hotels 
every  evening  to  pick  of  the  scraps  and  waste  that 
is  thrown  out.  One  evening  fourteen  came  down  for 
their  supper,  and  most  of  the  visitors  went  out  to  see 
them,  and  they  did  not  seem  to  be  afraid  of  us, 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  245 

but  we  did  not  pet  them  very  much.  The  tourists 
are  allowed  to  fish ;  that  pleasure  is  free  in  the  Park, 
and  the  campers  have  great  sport  fishing,  and  all 
the  fish  they  can  eat. 


THE  YELLOWSTONE  CANON. 

Within  the  girdle  of  these  snow-capped  peaks 

The  wondrous  hand  divine 
Has  blended  the  beautiful  and  the  terrible 

With  the  strange  and  the  sublime. 

It  is  one  enormous  amphitheatre 

That  by  nature's  God  was  planned, 

And  in  the  arena  struggled  forces 
Long  before  the  time  of  man. 

The  Gladiators  were  volcanoes 

That  struggled  in  this  awful  fight, 

With  no  spectators  but  the  sun  by  day 
And  the  moon  and  stars  by  night. 

Fire  and  water  were  the  force 

With  lurid  flame  and  scalding  steam ; 

They  struggled  here  for  ages 

And  produced  this  wondrous  scene. 

The  rocks  did  rend,  the  earth  did  quake, 
And  the  mountains  cleft  asunder, 

And  we  trembling  stand  upon  the  brink 
And  look  down,  and  down,  and  wonder. 

The  great  river  of  the  Yellowstone, 

With  rush  and  rage  and  maddening  flow, 

Leaps  the  awful  precipice 

Into  a  yawning,  foaming  gulf  below. 

When  we  stand  on  the  mount  of  inspiration, 
And  behold  this  awful  scene  so  grand, 

We  know  the  wonders  here  to  be  described 
Are  beyond  the  power  of  mortal  man. 


246  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

There  are  numerous  geysers  in  this  wonderland 
That  are  in  action  night  and  day, 

And  the  boiling  water  is  thrown  so  high 
That  it  falls  back  like  a  silver  spray. 

There  is  one  that  is  named  Old  Faithful, 

That  goes  up  on  schedule  time, 
A  boiling  volume  in  the  air 

That  looks  so  glorious  and  sublime. 

Then  there  is  a  noisy  old  black  growler, 

An  ancient,  rough  old  timer, 
That  blows  off  steam  both  night  and  day 

Like  a  great  Atlantic  liner. 

Then  there  is  a  monstrous  ugly  caldron 

Filled  with  boiling  mineral  mud  and  slime, 

That  at  intervals  it  swallows, 

Then  throws  it  up  again  on  time. 

There  are  numerous  boiling  lakes  and  paint  pots, 
With  every  shade  of  color  that  shines  like 
burnished  gold ; 

And  the  tourists  seem  delighted 

When  these  beauties  they  behold. 

— Geo.  Jackson. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  247 

Brief  History  of  the  First  Baptist 
Church  of  Dallas 

The  church  was  organized  on  the  30th  day  of 
July,  1868.  There  were  eleven  constituent  members, 
to-wit:  E.  G.  Mays,  W.  L.  Williams,  John  Hanna, 
Mrs.  Lou  B.  Williams,  Mrs.  M.  L.  Bowman,  Mrs. 
C.  E.  Mayo,  Mrs.  A.  C.  Mays,  Mrs.  N.  E.  Collins, 
Mrs.  Martha  Seegar,  Mrs.  A.  C.  Daniels  (Akard), 
Mrs.  M.  E.  Kerfoot.  Upon  the  organization  of  the 
church,  W.  W.  Harris  was  elected  pastor  for  half  his 
time;  he  served  about  six  months  and  resigned. 

The  church  organized  and  maintained  a  Sunday 
School,  and  did  the  best  it  could  without  a  pastor 
until  October  8th,  1871,  when  Elder  C.  A.  Stanton 
was  called  and  served  the  church  one-half  his  time, 
until  May  12th,  1872,  when  he  resigned,  and  Brother 
Abraham  Weaver  was  called  upon  a  salary  of  $1,000 
a  year,  and  served  the  church  until  Sept.  25,  1875. 
Rev.  G.  W.  Rogers  served  as  pastor  from  Jan.  23, 
1876,  to  Oct.  31,  1877. 

The  church  was  pastorless  then  until  1878,  when 
Elder  J.  H.  Curry  was  installed,  and  served  the 
church  until  June,  1882,  and  the  church  was  without 
a  pastor,  but  not  without  preaching,  till  January, 
1883,  when  Rev.  R.  T.  Hanks  was  installed  as  pas- 
tor, and  served  until  the  close  of  the  year  1889.  Rev. 
A.  M.  Sims  was  pastor  from  1890  to  July,  1892.  Rev. 
C.  T.  Seasholes  was  called  to  the  pastorate  Sept.  1, 
1892,  and  served  until  July,  1897.  Rev.  George  W. 
Truett,  the  present  pastor,  was  called  to  the  pastor- 
ate, and  began  his  work  Sept.  1st,  1897. 

The  growth  of  this  church  has  been  remarkable, 
and  has  grown  rapidly  during  the  last  ten  years.  In 
1892  the  membership  was  643;  in  1901,  1,020;  at 
present,  1,400. 


248  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

Under  the  able  management  and  earnest  preach- 
ing of  our  present  pastor,  large  crowds  have  been 
attracted  to  hear  him.  The  handsome  and  costly 
church  that  was  built  in  1889  and  '90,  and  was 
thought  at  that  time  to  be  large  enough  to  accommo- 
date the  people  for  the  present  generation,  in  late 
years  has  been  entirely  too  small  to  accommodate  the 
multitudes  that  have  been  attracted  there. 

The  present  church  auditorium,  that  is  nearly 
completed,  has  a  seating  capacity  of .  nearly  4,000, 
and  is  the  largest  church  auditorium  in  the  State, 
and  is  handsome  in  appearance. 

The  total  collections  by  the  church  for  all  pur 

poses  in  the  year  1905,  was $28,675.09 

Total  collections  for  the  year  1906,  was .  .  .   46,490.31 
Total  collections  for  the  year  1907,  was.  . .   49,244.11 

The  Sunday  School,  under  the  capable  and  effi- 
cient management  of  Dr.  Bush  Jones,  our  faithful 
superintendent,  has  kept  pace  with  the  church.  Ten 
years  ago,  when  he  took  charge  of  it,  the  attendance 
was  from  225. to  250  scholars.  The  report  for  April 
30th,  1908,  shows  enrolled  for  the  main  school.  .   711 

The  home  department 350 

The  cradle  roll 250 

Total  enrollment 1311 

The  Sunday  School  collections  for  the  year  end- 
ing April  30th,  1908,  were  $1,800.00. 


JEHOVAH  REIGNS. 

The  great  Jehovah  is  wisely  reigning 
Over  worlds  created  by  His  hand ; 

The  rolling  seas,  majestic  mountains, 
Are  all  a  part  of  God's  great  plan. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  249 

The  northern  blast,  the  chilling  winds 

And  drifting  snows  throughout  the  land, 

Prepares  the  earth  for  coming  spring, 
And  is  all  a  part  of  God's  own  plan. 

When  spring  has  come  with  balmy  breezes, 

And  life  is  seen  on  every  hand, 
Beauty  peeps  from  bud  and  blossom, 

And  it's  all  a  part  of  God's  great  plan. 

The  thunders  roll  down  hill  and  valley, 

And  the  lightning  looks  sublime  and  grand ; 

The  waving  grain  and  ripening  fruit 
Shows  God's  eternal  love  for  man. 

The  graceful  hills  and  fertile  valleys, 

Laden  with  rich  fruit  for  man, 
Depths  of  wisdom,  love  divine, 

All  a  part  of  God's  great  plan. 

Summer  suns  and  southern  breezes 

Gently  wafted  o'er  the  land, 
Makes  golden  sheaves  and  rich,  ripe  fruit, 

A  gracious  gift  from  God  to  man. 

The  blazing  sun,  a  mighty  monarch, 

Shining  down  upon  our  land, 
The  world  revolving  on  its  axis, 

Is  all  a  part  of  God's  great  plan. 

Numerous  planets,  all  in  motion, 

Endless  space,  seems  broad  and  broader ; 
Solar  system  after  system, 

Everything  in  perfect  order. 

We  wondering  look  with  admiration 
At  His  grand  and  glorious  plan; 

The  silver  moon  and  star  decked  heavens, 
Whispering  words  too  deep  for  man. 


250  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

Should  we  not  then  obey  God's  teaching, 
And  look  with  reverence  on  His  plan, 

And  trust  to  Him  for  our  salvation, 

Although  it  seems  too  deep  for  man? 

George  Jackson. 


The  Rise  and  Progress  of  the  M. 

E.  Church,  South,  in  the 

City  of  Dallas. 

By  Rev.  W.  H.  Hughes. 

The  first  time  I  ever  attended  divine  worship  in 
what  was  then  the  village  of  Dallas  was  early  in 
1853.  The  Rev.  James  A.  Smith,  a  most  reputable 
preacher,  gave  us  an  excellent  sermon  in  a  little 
paint  shop  about  fourteen  feet  square.  There  were 
perhaps  one  dozen  present  at  that  time.  There  was 
no  church  house  in  the  town,  nor  was  there  any 
church  organization  of  any  denomination.  Just 
where  the  First  Methodist  Society  was  organized 
and  by  whom  I  do  not  now  recollect,  but  it  was  some 
time  in  1854.  From  that  time  on  regular  preaching 
was  kept  up  by  both  the  circuit  and  local  preachers. 
They  preached  in  the  Courtouse  and  in  the  Masonic 
hall. 

In  1867  Dallas  was  made  a  station,  and  Rev.  W. 
H.  Hughes  was  stationed  there  that  and  the  follow- 
ing year.  During  his  pastorate  old  Lamar  Street 
Church  was  built,  where  the  Gaston  building  now 
stands,  on  the  corner  of  Commerce  and  Lamar 
streets.  The  lot  was  donated  by  Mrs.  Sarah  Cock- 
rell.  This  church  was  burned  in  1878.  Since  that 
time  the  little  village  of  Dallas  has  grown  into  a 
city  of  100,000,  and  from  the  ashes  of  the  old  church 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  251 

there  are  to-day  nine  different  charges,  (not  count- 
ing the  Northern  Methodist  or  the  African  Metho- 
dist), with  4663  members  and  3275  in  the  Sunday 
Schools,  and  yet  the  field  is  white  to  harvest. 


252  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

Promiscuous  Poems 


FROM  THE  ALAMO  TO  SAN  JACINTO. 

You  may  talk  about  Napoleon, 

And  sing  of  Washington  and  Lee ; 

But  they  can't  compare  with  the  Texas  men 
That  fought  for  liberty. 

You  may  read  the  history  of  all  nations, 

And  the  brave  of  every  land ; 
But  there  is  nothing  found  to  equal 

Colonel  Travis  and  his  band. 

Before  the  storming  of  the  Alamo 

By  a  dim  and  flickering  light 
A  line  was  drawn  by  Travis 

To  test  them  for  the  fight. 

Now  all  that  want  to  die  like  heroes 

Just  step  across  this  line. 
And  in  a  rush  they  all  responded, 

And  stepped  across  on  time. 

They  were  like  a  group  of  giants 

That  were  nerved  to  do  or  die; 
And  they  fought  the  hordes  so  desperate 

That  it  made  the  price  of  victory  high. 

It  was  early  in  the  morning  when  they  stormed 
the  Alamo, 
*But  they  killed  them  as  they  came,   and 
killed  them  on  the  wall, 
And  with  their  knives  and  muskets, 
They  tried  to  kill  them  all. 

*One  hundred  and  eighty-two  Texans  against 
five  thousand  Mexicans,  and  in  thirty  minutes  they 
killed  and  wounded  500  of  the  foe. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  253 

They  all  fought  to  desperation, 

That  our  country  might  be  free ; 
And  Texas  was  baptized  with  blood 

In  the  creed  of  liberty. 

Then  Santa  Anna  was  rejoicing, 

And  said  there  was  nothing  more  to  dread ; 
And  he  gave  his  soldiers  orders 

To  burn  the  rebel  dead. 

And  when  the  pyre  was  ignited 

To  burn  the  heroes  that  had  bled 

The  moaning  of  the  winds 

Sang  a  requiem  for  the  dead. 

The  funeral  pyre  was  then  enveloped, 

And  blazed  with  a  lurid  glow, 
As  it  burned  the  bodies  of  the  heroes 

That  fell  at  the  Alamo. 

"Heap  on  the  fire,"  they  shouted, 

In  all  their  fiendish  glee ; 
But  the  flame  that  burned  the  martyrs 

Was  the  death  of  tyranny. 

Fannin,  he  at  last  surrendered, 

But  it  seemed  all  the  chance  was  left ; 

And  his  men  were  stood  in  a  solid  line 
And  cruelly  shot  to  death. 

The  Texans  then  grew  desperate, 

And  they  seemed  in  an  awful  plight, 

But  the  bloody  hordes  of  Santa  Anna 
They  had  determined  yet  to  fight. 

At  last  Houston,  with  his  little  army, 

Charged  upon  the  bloody  foe, 
And  gained  a  glorious  victory, 

And  avenged  the  Alamo. 


254  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

It  was  at  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto 
That  Santa's  army  tried  to  flee, 

But  they  all  were  killed  or  captured, 
And  thank  God,  Texas  now  is  free. 


Geo.  Jackson. 


THE  LAST  DAY  OF  POMPEII. 

No  lowering  clouds  obscured  the  sky, 
The  sun  shone  bright  and  clear, 

And  the  people  were  on  pleasure  bent, 
With  no  thought  of  danger  near. 

The  many  places  of  amusement 
Did  attract  the  happy  throng, 

With  the  dances  and  the  drama, 
And  with  mirth  and  merry  song. 

In  their  large  and  spacious  amphitheater 
Great  throngs  with  bated  breath 

Looked  at  men  and  wild  animals, 

As  they  fought  and  fell  in  cruel  death. 

But  the  animals  sudenly  refuse  to  fight, 
And  there  was  an  uproar  in  the  den, 

And  an  awful  doom  seems  written 
On  the  face  of  frightened  men. 

The  earth  did  rock,  loud  thunder  roared, 
And  the  sky  turned  black  as  night, 

And  in  terror  and  confusion 

Some  escaped  by  sudden  flight. 

Beneath  Vesuvius'  burning  cone 
Old  Vulcan  stirred  the  coal, 

And  fire  and  flame  and  melted  lava 
Down  the  mountain  side  did  roll. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  255 

Vesuvius  belched  her  fiery  lava 

Just  from  the  jaws  of  hell, 
With  wreaking  flames  and  stifling  smoke, 

And  a  death-like  odorous  smell. 

Then  loving  mothers  with  their  children 
Could  no  longer  get  their  breath, 

And  their  dying  groans  grew  fainter, 
Until  all  were  hushed  in  death. 

The  doomed  city  then  was  buried 

With  all  her  wealth  and  pride, 
And  the  beggar  and  the  nobleman 

Are  found  lying  side  by  side. 

After  eighteen  hundred  years  of  silence, 

With  no  sorrow,  care  nor  strife, 
We  resurrect  their  bodies, 

As  natural  as  in  life. 

Geo.  Jackson. 

Some  historians  have  said  that  the  day  that 
Pompeii  was  destroyed  that  it  was  a  gala  day,  and 
the  people  were  engaged  in  different  kinds  of  amuse- 
ment. The  great  amphitheater  was  filled,  and  pris- 
oners were  put  in  the  arena  and  compelled  to  fight 
with  wild  beasts.  They  would  plant  trees  in  the 
arena  and  have  lions,  tigers  and  a  few  boa  con- 
strictors turned  loose  and  these  prisoners  had  to 
fight  for  their  lives  all  for  the  amusement  of  the 
spectators — a  sport  that  the  old  Romans  delighted  in. 


TO  AN  OLD  FRIEND  THAT  I  HAD  NOT  SEEN 
FOR  OVER  FORTY  YEARS. 

Dear  Tom,  we  look  back  o'er  the  passing  years 

The  childhood's  happy  hours, 
But  the  thief  of  time  has  stole  those  joys ; 

They  are  no  longer  ours. 


256  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

Time,  0  time,  deceptive  time, 

Promised  youth  its  sports  and  pleasures  plenty; 
They  have  passed.    'Tis  gone,  it's  fled  away ; 

The  treasure  house  is  empty. 

Time  brought  us  on  to  middle  age, 

And  promised  place  and  power; 
But  ambition  and  its  hollow  schemes 

Did  vanish  hour  by  hour. 

Time  still  rolls  on,  old  age  is  here, 

And  wealth  and  ease  we  crave; 
But  we  are  moving  onward  step  by  step 

In  the  pathway  to  the  grave. 

And  when  we  reach  that  dark  and  silent  place, 
Where  friends  do  weep  and  drop  a  tear, 

If  we  have  loved  our  God  and  fellow  man 
There  is  naught  beyond  the  grave  to  fear. 

George  Jackson. 


THE  OLD  MAN  AND  HIS  DOG. 

What  can  we  say  of  friendship, 

And  of  those  we  think  are  true? 

Have  they  been  tried  in  time  of  need  ? 
Do  you  know  they'll  stick  to  you  ? 

The  greatest  boon  God  gives  to  man 

Is  friends  in  time  of  need, 
With  ready  help  and  sympathy 

To  do  some  righteous  deed. 

There  are  sunshine  friends  that  hover  around 
When  the  sky  is  clear  and  bright; 

But  in  trouble  and  adversity 

Your  own  battles  you  must  fight. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  257 

I  once  had  friends  I  thought  were  true, 

But  they  are  beneath  the  sod, 
And  there  is  no  one  left  to  comfort  me 

But  Jack,  my  faithful  dog. 

And  when  I  pat  him  on  the  head 

He  seems  in  ecstasy  and  glee, 
And  says  you  have  a  friend,  you  can  depend, 

If  you'll  only  trust  to  me. 

When  we  go  out  to  take  a  walk 

In  the  garden,  field  or  glen, 
No  matter  where  we  ramble, 

I  know  I  have  a  friend. 

I  cannot  always  trust  to  men ; 

They  sometimes  steal  and  rob; 
But  no  matter  what  conditions  are, 

I  can  always  trust  my  dog. 

And  he  looks  so  wise  and  eloquent, 

And  such  a  trusty  friend, 
I  would  rather  have  his  company 

Than  any  vulgar  men. 

Then  Jack  is  a  faithful  watch  dog, 

And  guards  me  while  I  sleep ; 
And  in  the  morning  early 

My  presence  loves  to  greet. 

If  I  should  scold  or  threaten  Jack, 

My  pardon  he  would  crave, 
And  humbly  cringe  about  my  feet 

Like  a  good  and  faithful  slave. 

And  if  I  should  die  before  my  dog, 

This  faithful  friend  so  brave, 
Will  follow  to  my  resting  place 

And  watch  upon  my  grave. 

George  Jackson. 


258  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

THE  NATURAL  MAN  ON  THE  OCEAN  OF  LIFE. 

On  the  ocean  of  life  we  are  sailing, 

But  the  question  is  where  do  we  go? 

But  the  answer  comes  back  like  an  echo, 
I  don't  know,  no,  no ;  I  don't  know. 

We  strain  our  eyes  and  look  backward, 
But  onward  the  ship  seems  to  go, 

And  we  inquire  where  the  first  man  began  sailing, 
And  the  answer  comes  back,  I  don't  know, 
no, ;  I  don't  know. 

We  still  look  back  for  a  beginning, 

And  inquire  why  these  wonders  are  so; 

But  the  answer  comes  back  like  an  echo, 
I  don't  know,  no,  no ;  I  don't  know. 

We  meet  great  ships  in  mid-ocean, 
And  the  cry  is,  where  do  you  go? 

And  the  answer  comes  back  like  an  echo, 
We  don't  know,  no;  we  don't  know. 

Onward  our  ship  keeps  moving, 

And  we  ask  if  in  safety  we'll  cross, 

But  the  answer  comes  back  like  an  echo, 
I  am  afraid,  I  am  afraid  you  are  lost. 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MAN. 

Not  so  with  the  man  of  the  Bible, 
That  Christ  has  given  light ; 

His  heart  is  ever  bouyant, 

And  the  future  is  looking  bright. 

The  Christian  man  that  Christ  has  freed 
From  contention,  care  and  strife, 

Rejoices  as  he  leaves  this  clay, 
To  live  a  higher  life. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  259 

If  we  will  only  take  God  at  His  word, 

Our  faith  will  be  sure  to  grow, 
And  what  we  do  not  understand 

Hereafter  we  shall  know. 


THE  EXPERIENCE  OF  A  MAN  THAT  WAS 
ONCE  RICH. 

When  Fortune  smiled  and  the  sky  was  clear 
And  friends  were  plenty  far  and  near, 

And  life  seemed  real  and  worth  the  living, 

And  we  enjoyed  the  blessings  God  was  giving: 

When  men  were  honest  and  women  true, 
God  seemed  to  bless  then  all  we  knew; 

No  widow's  wail,  no  orphan  cries; 
This  world  then  seemed  a  Paradise. 

BUT  TIMES  HAVE  CHANGED. 

This  world  that  once  seemed  rosy  bright 

Is  dark  and  gloomy  as  the  night, 
Riches  took  wings  and  flew  away, 

And  sunshine  friends  have  gone  to  stay. 

'Tis  vain  to  trust  in  things  below, 

For  wealth  and  friends  are  sure  to  go. 

Then  look  up  to  Him,  be  true  and  brave, 
For  Christ  our  Lord  alone  can  save. 

Geo.  Jackson. 


ANCIENT  ROME. 

When  Rome  was  in  her  glory, 
And  the  world  was  at  her  feet, 

And  her  legions  marched  to  victory 
And  her  conquest  was  complete ; 


260  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

When  the  Caesars  reigned  in  splendor, 
And  would  dictate  every  thing, 

And  the  nations  of  the  Universe 
Paid  tribute  to  the  king; 

They  would  mobilize  great  armies, 
And  march  their  legions  out  afar, 

And  conquer  weaker  nations, 

And  bring  back  the  spoils  of  war. 

When  the  army  and  the  legion 

Returned  again  to  Rome 
They  were  met  by  all  the  leading  men, 

And  welcomed  to  their  home. 

They  would  form  one  grand  procession, 
With  the  conquering  general  set  on  high, 

And  shouts  of  victory  would  go  up 
That  seemed  to  rend  the  sky. 

And  in  this  proud  procession, 

With  glorious  pomp  and  power, 

They  would  march  their  prisoners 

Through  the  streets  for  many  and  many 
an  hour. 

Then  they  cast  them  into  filthy  dungeons 
With  darkness,  dirt  and  gloom, 

With  aching  hearts  and  weary  limbs 
To  await  their  awful  doom. 

Then  Rome  was  in  her  glory, 

With  all  her  captured  treasure ; 

She  lived  a  life  of  wickedness, 

With  rounds  and  rounds  of  pleasure. 

They  had  one  enormous  amphitheater,* 
With  the  wild  beasts  roaring  loud, 

As  they  tore  the  flesh  of  captives, 
And  amused  the  wicked  crowd. 


:::It  would  seat  80,000. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  261 

And  in  all  this  maddening  multitude 

That  in  exultant  glee  did  rave, 
There  was  not  a  single  eye  to  pity, 

Nor  a  single  arm  to  save. 

But  Christ,  our  blessed  Saviour, 

The  glorious  Prince  of  Peace, 
Has  set  a  new  example, 

And  His  doctrine  does  increase. 

Then  Paul,  the  great  Apostle, 

The  glorious  news  did  bring, 
And  preached  it  to  the  Romans, 

And  told  it  to  the  king. 

Although  he  was  a  prisoner, 

Bound  with  Roman  chains  so  hard, 

He  preached  it  to  the  soldiers, 
And  explained  it  to  the  guard. 

Then  the  Spirit  of  our  Saviour, 

The  glorious  Prince  of  Peace, 
Touched  the  hearts  of  many  Romans, 

And  its  power  does  still  increase. 

I  hope  the  time  may  soon  arrive 

When  cruel  wars  shall  cease, 
And  all  shall  heed  the  teaching 

Of  the  glorious  Prince  of  Peace. 


GOD  TEACHES  HIS  CHILDREN. 

Should  we  murmur  to  our  Maker, 
With  complaining  words  to  God, 

If  in  sickness  or  afflictions 

He  does  not  spare  the  rod? 

Have  you  obeyed  His  blessed  teachings? 

Do  you  know  the  higher  life  ? 
Are  you  free  from  vain  contention? 

Do  you  engage  in  world  strife? 


262  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

Do  you  know  this  world  is  a  training  school, 
And  that  God  will  certainly  teach  us  right, 

If  He  has  to  chasten  to  prepare  us 
For  that  high  and  better  life. 

If  we  are  the  heirs  of  God  the  Father 
And  the  children  of  His  choice, 

We  will  learn  the  deeper  secret 

That  will  make  our  hearts  rejoice. 

We  often  worry,  full  of  care, 

In  this  struggling,  selfish  world  of  strife, 
When  God's  afflicting  hand  says,  Halt! 

I  have  a  lesson  for  you  to  learn  in  life. 

Our  time  on  earth  is  very  short ; 

This  life  is  but  a  span 
Compared  with  endless  happiness 

That  God  has  promised  faithful  man. 

The  wisdom  of  His  teaching, 

And  the  glory  of  His  plan, 
Demands  true  worship  and  attention 

By  thoughtless,  sinful  man. 

If  we  have  trials  and  afflictions 

And  hearts  all  loaded  down  with  care, 

Look  to  God  and  ask  for  mercy, 

And  He  will  all  our  troubles  share. 

Geo.  Jackson. 


FOR  THE  COMING  PROHIBITION  ELECTION. 

We  are  living  in  a  grand  and  awful  time, 

If  we  live  and  live  aright, 
With  courage,  strength  and  manhood 

All  girded  for  the  fight. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  263 

King  Alcohol  is  reigning, 

And  his  minions  does  control, 
And  he  is  bartering  off  the  morals 

Of  our  people  now  for  gold. 

We  call  for  noble  manhood 

To  be  girded  for  the  fight, 
With  courage  of  convictions 

When  they  know  they  are  in  the  right. 

Up  and  tread  beneath  your  feet 

Every  cord  by  party  spun ; 
Let  your  hearts  together  beat 

As  the  heart  of  one. 

Let  real  estate  or  stocks  or  trade 

Let  it  rise  or  let  it  fall; 
Freedom  asks  your  common  aid. 

Have  courage,  manhood,  one  and  all. 

O,  for  God  and  duty  stand, 

Heart  to  heart,  and  hand  to  hand, 

Around  the  polls  throughout  the  land, 
And  do  your  duty  while  you  can. 

Hark!  the  mothers  weep.     The  children  cry 
They  cringe  and  run  and  hide  with  fear. 

The  father  comes.     He  is  drunk  again; 

His  homeward  staggering  steps  they  hear. 

The  children  are  often  driven  out  doors, 
And  not  a  friend  to  take  their  part; 

And  the  mother  weeps  and  pines  away, 
And  dies  with  a  broken  heart. 

The  attraction  of  the  grand  saloon 
And  the  inducements  they  employ 

Have  ruined  many  a  useful  man 

And  caught  many  and  many  a  boy. 


264  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

They  drink  this  poisoned  liquor 

Until  the  inner  man  is  filled, 
And  all  reason  has  departed, 

And  often  the  best  of  friends  are  killed. 

They  claim  they  have  the  legal  right 

This  business  to  uphold, 
And  produce  the  license  from  the  State 

For  which  they  paid  the  gold. 

And  our  penitentiaries  now  are  full, 

And  our  jails  do  overflow, 
By  crimes  committed  by  this  curse 

And  sanctioned  by  the  law. 

Our  legislative  bodies 

And  the  laws  they  do  uphold, 
Have  prolonged  the  withering,  blighting  curse. 

And  money  has  controlled. 

0,  for  God  and  duty  stand, 
p         Jieart  to  heart,  and  hand  to  hand, 
Around  the  polls  throughout  the  land, 
And  do  your  duty  while  you  can. 

Up  and  tread  beneath  your  feet 

Every  cord  by  party  spun; 
Let  your  hearts  together  beat 

As  the  heart  of  one. 

Let  us  speak  aloud,  in  thunder  tone, 

And  protect  our  children  and  our  home, 

And  dash  the  monster  from  his  throne, 
And  save  our  country  and  our  home. 

Geo.  Jackson. 

(Eight  lines  quoted  from  Whittier.) 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  265 

THE  STORM. 

The  sun  was  shining  very  warm, 
And  all  nature  semed  oppressed; 

Both  man  and  beast  seemed  languid 
And  seeking  shade,  and  quiet  rest. 

Hark !  there  is  a  faint  and  distant  rumbling 
That  seems  to  vibrate  through  the  air, 

And  the  unseen  powers  of  nature 
With  force  are  gathering  there. 

The  moaning  wind  begins  to  move, 

The  clouds  prepare  to  fly, 
And  lightnings  flash  from  point  to  point 

Across  the  hidden  sky. 

The  clouds  grow  dark  and  darker  still, 
Almost  as  black  as  darkest  night ; 

Then  lightnings  flash,  and  thunders  roil, 

And  the  heaven  is  a  blaze  of  brilliant  light. 

The  winds  increase,  a  perfect  fury, 
Lightning  blaze  a  constant  flash, 

And  thunders  tumble  from  the  heavens, 
Making  such  terrific  crash. 

The  towerings  oaks  like  mighty  monarchs 

Rooted  deep  beneath  the  sod 
Are  wrenched  and  torn  and  split  to  pieces 

By  unseen  forces  of  our  God. 

The  storm  has  passed,  the  stars  appear, 
And  grace  and  grandeur  all  things  fill ; 

The  Lord  commands.     The  winds  obey, 
And  all  is  quiet.    It's  peace,  be  still. 

The  storm  of  life  will  soon  be  over, 
Our  feet  draw  near  the  chilly  tide ; 

Then  trust  in  God  to  help  you  over, 
There  is  peace  and  joy  the  other  side. 


266  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

Shall  we  doubt  the  power  of  God  the  Father, 
Or  His  Scripture  that  has  said 

If  you'll  trust  in  Me  I'll  set  you  free 
And  raise  your  bodies  from  the  dead? 

Geo.  Jackson. 


ANCIENT  GREECE. 

The  mother  of  imperishable  memory, 

Her  arts  have  conquered  time. 
Her  brilliant  beauties  shine  today 

As  when  Greece  was  in  her  prime. 

The  inspired  sculptors  with  their  chisels 

The  wondrous  arts  achieved, 
And  their  statues  when  completed 

In  transcendant  beauty  seemed  to  breathe. 

They  err  who  say  that  Greece  is  dead ; 

Her  language  and  her  poets,  her  sculptors 
and  her  sages 
Are  living  now  and  will  live  on 

Down  through  the  coming  ages. 

There  is  Homer,  and  Demosthenes, 

With  language  so  sublime ; 
They  have  been  a  shining  light  in  every  age 

Down  to  the  present  time. 

A  wave  of  light  and  mental  energy 

O'er  that  nation  then  did  roll, 
And  her  arts,  philosophy  and  learning 

Has  spread  from  pole  to  pole. 

The  Parthenon,  the  crown  of  the  Acropolis, 

And  the  glory  of  the  past, 
The  art  and  beauty  there  displayed 

Has  never  been  surpassed. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  267 

The  wondrous  art  and  amazing  skill 

For  centuries  there  employed 
The  barbarians  and  the  vandals 

In  later  years  destroyed. 

George  Jackson. 


IS  THIS  LIFE  WORTH  LIVING. 

No,  if  all  our  talents  and  our  time 

To  the  devil  we  are  giving 
Our  life  will  be  a  failure 

And  hardly  worth  the  living. 

Or  if  this  life  is  all,  and  death  the  last, 

With  no  hope  beyond,  nor  sins  forgiven, 

No  God  to  meet,  no  friends  to  greet, 

Then  this  life  is  a  blank,  and  not  worth  living. 

The  poet  has  said : 

That  life  is  real ;  life  is  earnest ; 

And  the  grave  is  not  its  goal ; 
That  dust  though  art  to  dust  returneth 

Was  not  written  of  the  soul. 

Shall  our  souls  be  bound  to  things  of  earth, 
Amidst  sin,  deceit  and  worldly  strife, 

When  there  is  a  fountain  we  can  reach 
That  gives  to  us  eternal  life. 

Our  mind  and  thoughts  may  rise  above 

All  cares  and  worldly  strife, 
And  on  eagle's  wings  may  soar  aloft 

And  taste  the  bliss  of  a  higher  life. 

This  life  on  earth  is  worth  the  living 
If  we  improve  God's  given  time, 

And  if  we  obey  His  blessed  teachings, 
We  can  make  our  lives  sublime. 


268  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

Our  souls  can  rise  to  heavenly  heights 
Above  this  sin-cursed  world  of  strife 

And  work  for  Him  who  died  for  us, 
And  live  a  glorious,  happy  life. 

Then  when  time  on  earth  shall  be  no  more 
Our  soul  shall  take  its  homeward  flight, 

And  gloom  and  fear  shall  be  dispelled 
By  a  brilliant  flame  of  heavenly  light. 


The  poet  has  described    the    passing    from  this 
world  into  the  next  in  the  following  lines : 

What  is  this  absorbs  me  quite, 
It  steals  my  senses,  shuts  my  sight, 
Drowns  my  spirit,  draws  my  breath, 
Tell  me,  my  soul,  can  this  be  death. 
Cease,  fond  Nature,  cease  thy  strife, 
And  let  me  languish  into  life. 


LOVE  AND  KINDNESS. 

When  man  was  first  created 
By  the  power  of  God  above, 

The  strongest  passion  that  He  planted 
In  the  heart  of  man,  was  love. 

The  youth  that  loves  the  maiden 
Or  the  men  that  love  their  wives 

When  in  danger  or  in  trouble 

Will  protect  them  with  their  lives. 

Kind  parents  love  their  children. 

And  their  battles  they  will  fight ; 
And  the  children  love  the  parents 

If  the  parents  treat  them  right. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  269 

Our  hearts  go  out  to  near  of  kin 

When  in  sickness,  pain  or  sorrow; 

But  our  love  when  measured  by  God's  Word 
Is  weak  and  small  and  narrow. 

Men  engage  in  strife  and  cruel  war, 
And  sink  to  murderous  depths  of  sin; 

But  Christ  commands  to  rule  by  love, 
For  all  the  world  of  man  are  kin. 

We  love  to  greet  the  smiling  face, 

And  happy,  loving  words  we  crave; 

It  cheers  the  heart,  and  does  more  good 

Than  wreaths  of  flowers  upon  our  grave. 

Bad  habits  grow  and  cling  to  men 

And  bind  them  like  a  fetter; 
They  fret  and  fume  and  fuss  around, 

When  kindness  would  be  better. 

You  parents  should  be  pleasant 

And  kind  in  all  your  ways, 
And  when  your  child  deserves  it 

Be  sure  and  give  him  praise. 

The  aged,  with  silver  locks  and  tottering  steps, 

Where  once  they  firmly  trod, 
Be  kind  to  them,  in  word  and  deed 

With  love  that's  born  of  God. 

Their  wrinkled  face  and  trembling  limbs 

And  aching  heart  does  crave 
A  word  of  cheer  and  kindness  now, 

Not  flowers  upon  their  grave. 

Father  Time  is  swiftly  passing, 
•     And  no  stop  will  he  allow ; 
Then  if  you  have  some  words  of  comfort, 
Be  kind,  dear  friend,  and  tell  us  now. 


270  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

I  often  think  of  Robert  Burns,* 

The  genius  and  the  poet, 
That  almost  starved  in  Scotland, 

And  no  one  cared  or  seemed  to  know  it. 

But  now  they  worship  at  his  shrine, 

And  of  his  genius  prate, 
And  the  help  and  kindness  he  deserved 

At  last  has  come  too  late. 

Soon  the  death  knell  of  time  shall  sound  the  note 

And  liberate  this  slave, 
Then  give  me  words  of  kindness  now — 

Not  flowers  upon  my  grave. 

I  do  not  write  these  lines  to  condemn  the  beauti- 
ful custom  of  placing  flowers  on  the  graves  of  our 
dear,  departed  friends,  but  rather  to  impress  the 
readers  to  be  kind  to  the  living  and  throw  them  a 
few  bouquets  while  they  yet  live. 

Geo.  Jackson. 


*Robert  Burns  was  threatened  with  imprison- 
ment for  a  small  debt  of  $25.00,  and  was  in  very 
embarrassing  circumstances  and  lived  in  a  miserable 
little  house  in  Dumfrees,  Scotland,  while  he  wrote 
the  poems  that  have  immortalized  him  and 
when  so  oppressed  he  sold  his  best  book  of  poems  for 
the  pitiful  sum  of  $45.00.  A  fac-similie  of  his  house 
and  the  furniture  was  .exhibited  at  the  World's  Fair, 
St.  Louis.  Since  his  death  monuments  have  been 
raised  to  his  memory  in  most  of  the  cities  of  Scot- 
land. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  271 

THE  PARK  AT  COLORADO  SPRINGS. 

My  home  is  down  in  Texas, 

In  the  garden  of  the  Lord, 
Where  golden  grain  and  luscious  fruit 

Is  the  farmer's  rich  reward. 

I  love  that  land  of  freedom, 

Where  men  are  honest,  brave  and  true, 
And  have  not  worshipped  Mammon 

As  some  others  seem  to  do. 

But  when  summer  time  comes  pressing  on, 

And  the  sun  gets  blazing  hot, 
I  know  a  most  delightful  place, 

A  cool  and  charming  spot. 

It's  up  in  Colorado, 

Near  Pike's  Historic  Peak, 
Where  the  mountains  rise  in  grandeur, 

And  the  winds  their  revels  keep. 

The  trees  are  large  and  uniform, 

And  stand  straight  in  many  a  row; 

And  the  sparkling  waters  at  the  fount 
Are  just  from  the  melting  snow. 

It's  there  we  meet  congenial  friends, 

And  talk  of  many  things, 
In  that  pleasant  and  delightful  Park 

At  Colorado  Springs. 

The  seats  are  free,  and  easy, 

And  sweet  music  in  the  air ; 
And  we  pass  the  fleeting  moments 

Forgetting  every  care. 

Then  all  hail  to  General  Palmer, 

The  founder  of  the  town, 
I  love  to  sing  his  praises 

From  Texas  all  around. 


272  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

All  hail  to  General  Palmer, 

For  these  Colorado  parks. 

He  has  been  a  public  blessing 

And  completely  won  our  hearts. 

Geo.  Jackson. 
Written  in  Colorado  Springs. 


ISAIAH'S  PROPHECY. 

The  wondrous  vision  of  Isaiah, 

When  he  looked  down  the  stretch  of  time 
And  saw  our  blessed  Saviour 

And  beheld  the  awful  crime. 

He  saw  the  King  of  Glory  when  by  Pilate  He 
was  tried, 
And  he  saw  the  wicked  priests  when  with 
hate  and  rage  they  cried, 
"There  is  no  king  but  Caesar, 
And  He  must  be  crucified !" 

He  saw  the  wicked,  railing  mob 

That  nailed  Him  to  the  tree, 
And  saw  Him  give  his  precious  life 

For  sinful  men  like  you  and  me. 

He  saw  our  humble  Saviour, 

The  Man  of  Galilee, 
While  spat  upon  and  cruelly  scourged, 

And  died  upon  the  tree. 

He  saw  Him  there  between  the  thieves, 
When  they  cruelly  pierced  His  side ; 

And  heard  His  last  expiring  word, 
"It  is  finished!"  then  He  died. 

He  saw  Him  laid  in  the  silent  tomb, 

A  short  time  to  remain, 
When  He  broke  the  bands  of  death  and  the  grave, 

And  in  triumph  arose  again. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  273 

0  Lord  above,  0  Lord  of  love, 

May  the  vision  of  my  soul  be  bright, 
That  I  may  see  Thy  wondrous  power 

In  every  bud  and  every  tree  and  every  open- 
ing flower! 

George  Jackson. 


A  MIDNIGHT  DREAM 

I  dreamed  a  dream  the  other  night, 
While  pressed  beneath  my  quilts; 

I  dreamed  I  saw  our  City  Dads 
All  walking  around  on  stilts. 

Hay,  he  walked  a  Shanghai  pair, 

And  "Forward"  was  his  cry, 
"I'll  navigate  these  Dallas  streets 

Or  every  man  shall  die." 

At  length  they  reached  the  mud  on  Bryan  street, 
They  all  thought  was  the  worse, 

And  they  stopped  and  called  a  Council, 
But  some  began  to  curse. 

When  Sullivan  made  a  motion 

From  his  place  of  elevation, 
And  swore  he'd  pave  the  swamps  of  Main  street 

Or  burst  the  corporation. 

Then  on  the  handsome  face  of  Mr.  Seay 

The  troubled  look  increased, 
And  he  said  "Something  must  be  quickly  done, 

Or  I  shall  lose  all  my  best  police." 

Then  Father  Doran's  troubled  face 
Turned  almost  as  white  as  chalk, 

And  he  straightened  high  upon  his  perch 
And  we  thought  he  was  going  to  talk ; 


274  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

But  he  hemmed  and  hawed 

And  coughed  and  sneeed, 
Then  said,  "Look  yonder,  boys, 

The  Elks  do  come  in  mud  above  their  knees." 

Then  Charlie  sighed  and  gave  a  groan, 
And  his  heart  did  fairly  throb, 

And  he  said,  "Lord  have  mercy  on  our  souls, 
We  have  tackled  an  awful  job." 

Then  the  asphalt  men  with  their  smoothing  irons 

Appeared  upon  the  scene; 
And  they  all  fell  in  those  awful  holes 

And  awoke  me  from  my  dream. 

Notwithstanding  this  awful  dream,  I  have  an 
abiding  confidence  in  the  Commission  and  Mayor 
Hay,  and  believe  he,  with  the  help  of  the  Commission, 
will  prove  to  be  the  Moses  that  is  to  lead  us  up  out 
of  the  wilderness  of  mud  and  mire  and  plant  our 
feet  on  solid  pavement.  All  they  want  is  cash,  con- 
fidence and  co-operation,  and  a  little  time. 

Father  Doran  now  is  active, 

And  with  his  large  force  he  stirs 

And  it  means  good  streets  for  Dallas 
And  he  will  surely  win  his  spurs. 

Geo.  Jackson,  Patient  Citizen  on  -Bryan  Street. 

Written  December  15th,  107,  when  the  mud  was 
very  deep  on  Bryan  street. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  275 

OUR  LITTLE  GIRL. 

Our  darling,  lovely  little  girl 

That  has  come  to  give  us  joy, 
With  dimpled  cheek  and  golden  hair, 

Our  bright-eyed,  blue-eyed  little  Foy. 

She  grows  so  fast  and  looks  so  bright, 

And  acts  so  very  smart ; 
Her  golden  hair  and  tiny  arms 

Are  twined  about  our  heart. 

Our  home  was  made  so  happy, 

And  life's  blessings  we  enjoy, 
With  this  priceless  treasure  in  our  hearts, 

Our  bright-eyed,  blue-eyed  little  Foy. 

The  cords  of  love  that  are  so  strong 

Has  bound  her  to  our  heart, 
And  it  was  a  sad  and  awful  day 

When  we  did  have  to  part. 

But  the  angel  of  death  in  a  pityless  flight 

Passed  over  our  happy  home, 
And  the  treasure  we  loved  was  called  away, 

And  we  are  left  to  mourn  alone. 

If  God's  judgment  then  is  always  right 

We  must  put  our  trust  in  Him ; 
If  He  takes  the  treasures  of  our  heart 

Before  they  know  of  sin. 

May  Heaven  open  wide  her  golden  portals, 
And  swing  the  pearly  gates  afar, 

And  hail  the  coming  with  glad  tidings 
Of  our  bright-eyed,  blue-eyed  little  Foy. 

George  Jackson. 


276  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

SCOTLAND. 

Of  all  the  different  nationalities 

That  in  this  land  have  cast  their  lot, 

I  love  best  to  sing  the  praises 
Of  the  brave  and  bonnie  Scot. 

The  land  of  Bruce  and  Wallace 
And  the  men  that  knew  no  fear, 

That  kept  the  Britons  from  their  heather 
For  many  a  hundred  year. 

Bruce  was  hunted  by  the  English 
And  excommunicated  by  the  Pope, 

But  his  soul  was  never  conquered, 
And  he  never  gave  up  hope. 

Brave  Bruce,  he  led  at  Bannockburn, 

That  fearless  Scottish  clan, 
And  in  dismay  the  hordes  of  England 

Were  driven  from  their  land. 

And  Wallace  cannot  be  destroyed — 

You  may  cut  and  burn  the  body  and  do  just 
what  you  will;* 

He  stood  for  a  great  immortal  truth, 
And  his  soul  is  with  us  still. 

Then  Robert  Burns,  the  plow  boy, 

His  genius  I  do  admire. 
He  puts  my  heart  to  thinking, 

And  my  soul  he  sets  on  fire. 

He  said,  "Gie  me  a  spark  of  nature's  fire, 

That's  the  learning  I  desire; 
Then  tho'  I  drudge  thro'  dub  and  mire 

At  plow  or  cart, 
My  muse  tho  homely  in  attire, 

May  touch  the  heart." 


*These  beautiful  and  touching  lines  were  written 
when  he  was  so  oppressed  by  his  creditors. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  277 

And  he  has  touched  the  heart  of  millions 

In  his  sad  and  short  career, 
And  thousands  visit  at  his  grave 

In  every  coming  year.* 

His  simple  verses  touched  the  heart 

And  his  nature  so  inclined, 
And  he  wrote  the  never  dying  song 

Of  the  days  of  Auld  Lang  Syne. 


ROBERT  AND  MARY. 

With  Bible  in  hand  by  the  running  streamt 
They  pledged  their  vows  so  fairly, 

But  death  stepped  in  with  a  cruel  hand, 
And  took  his  Highland  Mary. 

The  Bible  now  can  yet  be  seen 

In  his  monument  at  Ayr, 
And  on  a  faded  page  his  autograph 

Beneath  a  tress  of  Mary's  hair. 

His  lines  are  sad  and  beautiful 

That  he  wrote  by  the  running  stream, 

And  have  touched  the  hearts  of  many, 
And  very  sad  they  seem. 


*30,000  annually. 

tAccording  to  the  solemn  custom  of  the  country, 
the  lovers  when  exchanging  their  vows  of  everlasting 
faithfulness  stood  beside  a  stream  of  running  water, 
emblem  of  eternity,  and  holding  a  Bible  between 
them,  pledged  love  and  loyalty  forever.  They  never 
met  again.     Mary  died  soon  after. 


278  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

"Ye  banks  and  braes  o'  Bonnie  Doon, 

How  can  ye  bloom  sae  fresh  and  fair?* 
How  can  ye  chant,  ye  little  birds, 
And  I  sae  weary,  fu'  o'  care!" 

And  Walter  Scott,  the  poet 

And  novelist  so  grand, 
With  such  transcendant  genius 

He  has  immortalized  that  land. 

The  great  magician  with  his  magic  pen 

Our  interest  does  awake, 
With  Loch  Katrine  and  the  Silver  Strans, 

And  the  Lady  of  the  Lake. 

Geo.  Jackson. 


IRELAND. 


When  I  think  of  dear  old  Ireland 

My  heart  is  sore  distressed, 
Her  noble  sons  in  poverty 

And  by  England  so  oppressed. 

When  in  olden  times  the  English 

To  heathen  gods  were  turning, 
Old  Ireland  was  a  Christian  land 

And  the  seat  of  piety  and  learning. 

Her  missionaries  were  sent  out, 

And  went  from  place  to  place, 
And  preached  the  Gospel  to  the  people 

Of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race. 

^Wallace  was  betrayed  and  suffered  a  horrible 
death  at  London.  His  head  was  cut  off  and  placed  on 
a  pole  on  London  bridge;  his  right  arm  displayed  at 
Newcastle,  his  left  arm  at  Berwick ;  one  leg  was  sent 
to  Perth,  the  other  to  the  town  of  Aberdeen;  the 
other  parts  of  the  body  was  burned. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  279 

The  disciples  of  Columbia  and  St.  Patrick,* 

From  Tara's  hill  did  start 
To  the  heathen  shores  of  Briton 

Their  knowledge  to  impart. 

There  were  hundreds  of  monasteries, 

And  churches  many  and  many  a  score, 

That  were  founded  by  these  noble  men 
On  England's  heathen  shore. 

There  were  schools  and  colleges  then  in  Ireland, 

And  some  of  them  were  free, 
That  drew  their  students  from  England  and 
from  Scotland, 

And  some  from  Germany. 

But  the  Danes  and  Scandinavians 

Did  invade  old  Erin's  shore 
With  murder  and  destruction, 

For  two  hundred  years  or  more. 

But  Erin's  sons  did  ne'er  give  up, 

Although  much  precious  blood  was  spilled, 

But  they  fought  and  fought  and  fought  again, 
Until  every  Dane  was  killed. 

But  old  Ireland  then  was  crippled, 
And  her  wealth  was  all  destroyed, 

And  she  was  deprived  of  many  blessing 
That  she  had  so  long  enjoyed. 

*  Saint  Patrick  and  twelve  of  his  disciples  visited 
the  Pagan  King  at  Tara,  dressed  in  white  robes,  and 
they  carried  crosses,  and  made  such  an  impression 
on  the  King  and  his  ministers  that  the  King  granted 
them  permission  to  preach  the  gospel,  and  later 
Columbia  and  his  disciples  crossed  over  to  Scotland, 
and  they  founded  in  Scotland,  England  and  Ger- 
many one  hundred  and  sixty-four  monasteries. 


280  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

Then  old  England  with  her  armies 

That  country  did  invade, 
With  fire  and  sword  on  every  side, 

And  many  a  prisoner  made. 

Seven  centuries  now  have  passed  and  gone, 
But  Ireland  is  still  oppressed. 

Will  England  never  see  her  faults 
And  at  last  make  some  redress? 

Daniel  O'Connell,  Burke  and  Gratten, 

That  long  ago  have  died, 
In  eloquence  plead  for  justice, 

But  it  always  was  denied. 

The  Irish  heart  is  generous 

And  always  brave  and  strong, 

And  will  ever  yield  to  kindness 
And  with  scorn  resent  a  wrong. 

And  her  soldiers  in  the  British  rank 

Are  always  brave  and  true, 
And  her  generals  always  lead  the  way, 

And  they  are  Irish,  too. 

The  greatest  battle  ever  fought 

Was  that  of  Waterloo, 
With  the  Duke  of  Wellington  in  command, 

And  he  was  Irish,  too. 

Lord  Kitchener  commands  in  Egypt, 
And  to  England  is  ever  true, 

And  justice  is  his  watchword, 
And  he  is  Irish,  too. 

There  is  Lord  Roberts,  White  and  Wolsley, 

And  others  not  a  few, 
That  have  led  the  British  arms  to  victory— 

And  they  all  are  Irish,  too. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  281 

Old  England  now  has  power  supreme, 
And  is  praised  in  song  and  story; 

But  she  is  indebted  to  old  Ireland 
For  more  than  half  her  glory. 

The  harp  that  once  through  Tara's  halls 

The  soul  of  music  shed 
Now  hangs  as  mute  on  Tara's  wTalls 

As  if  that  soul  were  fled. 

No  more  chiefs  and  ladies  bright 

The  harp  of  Tara  swells. 
The  chord  alone  that  breaks  at  night 

Its  tale  of  ruin  tells. 

The  above  two  verses  are  the  touching  lines  of 
Tom  Moore. 


TO  FRANK  PERRY. 

In  the  long,  long  ago, 
The  old  school-house  on  Patties  Branch, 

The  place  we  used  to  go. 
When  our  hearts  were  light, 
And  our  hopes  were  bright, 

Just  fifty  years  ago? 

Our  teacher,  Frank,  has  died  since  then ; 

He  was  so  gocd  and  true ; 
But  his  soul  is  gone  to  live  with  God, 

And  few  are  left  but  me  and  you. 

They  were  joyous  times,  dear  Frank, 

And  my  memory  loves  to  go 
To  that  old  school  house  on  Patties  Branch, 

Just  fifty  years  ago. 


282  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

The  sparkling  water  chrystal  clear, 
From  the  fountain  head  did  flow, 

A  winding,  rippling,  merry  stream, 
Into  the  larger  branch  below. 

But  now,  dear  Frank,  the  branch  is  dry, 

I  don't  know  why  it's  so; 
And  the  fountain  head  is  not  so  clear 

As  it  was  in  the  long  ago. 

Dear  Frank,  I  well  remember 

The  names  of  every  girl  and  boy, 

And  the  games  we  played  upon  the  green, 
And  those  we  did  enjoy. 

But  most  of  them  are  gone,  dear  Frank, 

A  few  are  left,  we  know, 
That  played  with  us  on  Patties  Branch, 

Just  fifty  years  ago. 

'Twas  then  the  blue-back  speller 
Was  the  greatest  book  in  school, 

And  we  used  to  spell  quite  often, 
Because  it  was  the  rule. 

We  stood  up  in  our  classes 

Upon  the  puncheon  floor 
And  spelled  and  spelled  and  spelled 

Almost  forever  more. 

But  most  of  them  are  gone,  dear  Frank, 

But  few  are  left,  we  know 
That  spelled  with  us  at  the  old  school-house 

Just  fifty  years  ago. 

Then  we  had  the  spelling  match, 

With  a  chief  on  either  side 
To  make  the  best  selections, 

For  in  that  they  took  a  pride. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  283 

And  then  the  spelling  would  begin, 

And  the  words  go  around  and  around, 

And  everybody  had  a  chance 
To  spell  the  others  down. 

But  most  of  them  are  gone,  dear  Frank, 

A  few  are  left  we  know 
That  spelled  with  us  at  the  old  school-house 

Just  fifty  years  ago. 

But  now,  dear  Frank,  the  time  does  fly, 

And  the  winters  come  and  go; 
But  we've  been  blessed  by  the  God  above, 

From  whom  all  blessings  flow. 

And  when  the  march  of  time  has  passed, 

And  we  are  called  upon, 
May  we  meet  our  friends  in  the  field  of  bliss, 

In  the  unknown  world  beyond ! 

Yes,  the  time  is  coming  quickly 

When  we  both  will  have  to  go, 
Hoping  for  a  grand  reunion 

With  those  of  fifty  years  ago. 

Geo.  Jackson. 

Mr.  Frank  Perry  was  the  last  man  left  in  the 
old  neighborhood  that  went  to  school  with  me  in 
the  old  log  cabin,  and  he  has  since  died. 


284  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

The  Neglected  Boys  of  Dallas 

I  am  glad  that  the  cry  of  the  neglected  boys  of 
Dallas  is  beginning  to  sound  in  the  ears  and  touch 
the  hearts  of  the  Christian  people  of  the  city.  They 
have  been  neglected  too  long,  entirely  too  long  and  I 
was  delighted  when  the  Club  Ladies  of  Dallas  took 
the  matter  up,  and  I  believe  they  have  struck  the 
key-note,  and  I  believe  the  neglected  children  of 
Dallas  will  be  better  cared  for  in  the  future;  and  I 
hope  every  good  citizen  and  tax  payer  will  encourage 
and  help  them  in  this  laudable  enterprise.  I  be- 
lieve the  money  invested  in  this  undertaking,  looked 
at  from  a  financial  standpoint,  will  be  a  good  in- 
vestment. Most  of  our  criminals  come  from  this  ele- 
ment. I  was  driving  down  East  Elm  street  towards 
the  main  part  of  the  city  ten  or  twelve  years  ago, 
and  I  saw  in  front  of  me  and  near  a  saloon  a  crowd 
of  men,  and  as  I  drew  near  I  saw  two  boys  fighting, 
and  some  of  the  men  were  hurrahing  for  one  and 
some  for  the  other.  The  boys  appeared  to  be  about 
ten  or  twelve  years  old.  I  jumped  out  of  my  buggy, 
leaving  my  horse  standing  in  the  street,  and  after 
some  difficulty  I  succedeed  in  parting  them.  One  had 
got  the  other  down.  They  were  both  in  a  raging  pas- 
sion, and  one  swore  he  would  kill  the  other,  and  as 
I  pulled  them  apart  he  kept  saying,  "I'll  kill  him. 
I'll  kill  him." 

After  I  had  them  safely  parted  I  told  the  crowd 
they  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  themselves  for  urging 
and  encouraging  the  boys  in  the  fight.  I  then  got 
in  my  buggy  and  left  them,  and  I  began  to  think  of 
the  environments  and  the  low  moral  standard  that 
was  educating  and  forming  the  character  of  those 
boys,  and  I  talked  with  several  about  the  conditions, 
but  nothing  was  done  except  through  our  mission 
schools.     I  did  for  many  years  gather  up  children 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  285 

and  take  them  in  my  carriage  to  the  evening  mission 
school,  and  hope  there  might  have  been  some  good 
done;  but  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  something  dif- 
ferent from  what  our  churches  and  missions  are 
doing  will  have  to  be  done  to  reach  the  neglected 
boys.  It  is  hard  to  get  them  into  the  missions,  and 
our  fine  churches  are  entirely  too  respectable  to 
reach  this  class.  If  we  succeed  in  getting  one  into 
the  mission  it  is  only  for  an  hour  once  a  week.  It  is 
true  even  that  might  be  a  great  help  to  him.  I  am 
of  the  opinion  that  we  should  have  some  organization 
or  some  means  of  securing  the  friendship  of  these 
boys.  If  we  can  only  make  them  believe  we  are  their 
friends  we  may  find  a  soft  place  in  their  hearts,  and 
when  in  that  condition  they  can  be  instructed  and 
may  receive  lasting  impression  for  good. 

Many  of  these  boys  may  have  parents  that  are 
cross,  crabbed  and  cruel,  and  the  boy  may  never  have 
had  a  kind  word  at  home,  not  a  word  to  encourage 
him  in  the  right  way,  and  the  boy  is  virtually  driven 
out  in  the  streets,  and  there  he  gets  his  education.  I 
think  such  boys  are  no  better  off  than  the  orphans. 
I  hope  the  people  of  Dallas  will  hold  up  the  hands 
of  these  good  women  that  have  undertaken  this  good 
work,  and  when  tag  day  comes  around  again  respond 
to  their  demands  liberally. 


FOR  TAG  DAY. 

'Tis  said  we  live  in  a  Christian  age, 

With  modern  church  and  school 
And  we  also  have  the  modern  club, 

With  officers  to  rule ; 
We  have  clubs  for  women,  and  clubs  for  men, 

And  clubdom  we  enjoy — 
But  I'll  ask  tonight,  Have  you  done  right 

With  the  poor  and  friendless  boy? 


286  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

We  also  have  the  modern  smoker, 
And  cigars  they  puff  and  smoke, 

And  tell  the  witty  story, 

And  crack  the  modern  joke. 

It's  the  thing  they  seem  to  fancy, 
And  the  life  they  do  enjoy; 

But  ask  your  souls  tonight,  Have  you  done  right 
With  the  poor  and  friendless  boy? 

We  also  have  the  modern  drinking  place, 

The  gilded,  grand  saloon, 
Where  tipplers  meet  and  talk  and  drink 
At  morning,  night  and  noon  ; 
We  have  the  mixed  and  modern  drink 

That  the  fathers  so  enjoy, 
But  ask  your  souls  tonight,  Have  you  done  right 

By  the  poor  and  friendless  boy? 

We  have  the  costly  modern  church, 

With  steeples  towering  high, 
with  costly  windows,  colored  paints, 
And  all  the  pictures  of  the  saints, 

And  modern  sermons  to  enjoy — 
What  have  you  paid,  what  have  you  done, 

To  help  the  poor  and  friendless  boy- 
His  little  feet  are  on  the  street, 

And  it  is  the  devil's  plan 
To  lead  to  sin  and  every  crime, 

And  make  a  worthless,  wicked  man. 
Then  listen,  hark !    The  mothers'  call, 
Be  up  and  doing,  one  and  all; 
Then  in  after  life  it  will  be  a  joy 
..Boar  Frank.  do-vfHi-ramernber- 
To  know  you  helped  the  friendless  boy. 

George  Jackson. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  287 

Tag  day  was  celebrated  February  29,  1908,  by  the 
Club  Ladies  of  Dallas,  for  the  purpose  of  raising 
money  for  the  neglected  children  of  Dallas  by  selling 
a  tag  to  every  passing  gentleman  on  the  streets,  and 
over  $4,000  was  raised.  This  will  be  made  an  annual 
event. 


Diary  of  Trip  to  England  after 
an  absence  of  56  years 

Dallas,  Texas,  June  1,  1894. 

The  first  part  of  this  diary  may  not  interest  the 
public,  as  it  speaks  of  names  and  places  familiar 
only  to  my  own  people;  but  further  on  in  the  diary 
it  speaks  of  historic  places  and  names  that  will  be 
of  interest  to  almost  every  reader. 

I  bade  my  home  folks  good  bye  and  took  the  Katy 
Flyer.  The  first  day  I  went  to  Waggoner,  and  stayed 
the  night  with  my  brother,  Capt.  William  Jackson. 
They  had  a  reception  that  night,  and  the  place  was 
lit  up  with  electric  lights  and  a  band  of  music  play- 
ing. 

Second  day  I  stopped  over  with  him. 

The  3rd  of  June  I  boarded  the  train  for  St.  Louis, 
but  stopped  over  at  Nevada.  The  Marmaton  and 
the  Osage  Rivers  were  very  high,  and  the  washouts 
detained  us  so  long  the  passengers  became  acquaint- 
ed. At  the  Marmaton  River  we  were  detained  half  a 
day.  We  employed  a  negro  with  a  banjo,  and  he 
played  for  us,  and  we  passed  off  the  time  very  well, 
and  when  we  reached  the  Big  Osage  River  it  was 
very  high.  We  went  a  mile  or  so  in  the  water,  and 
crossed  the  main  stream,  but  came  to  a  washout  and 
had  to  back  out  and  go  around  by  Kansas  City. 

We  did  not  reach  St.  Louis  until  the  evening  of 
the  sixth  day.     I  did  not  leave  St.  Louis  until  the 


288  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

evening  of  the  ninth  day.  I  visited  the  Fair  and 
enclosure  of  the  Filipinos,  fenced  with  bamboo  cane, 
and  there  were  a  great  many  ladies  and  gentlemen 
there  with  their  cameras  taking  snap  shots  at  the 
groups  of  almost  naked  Filipinos.  The  principal 
attraction  was  the  tribe  of  dog  eaters.  One  Filipino 
was  seen  beating  on  a  pan,  and  another  sharpening 
a  large  knife,  and  the  third  one  brought  in  a  dog. 
One  held  him  by  the  head,  the  other  by  the  hind  legs, 
and  the  third  party  cut  off  his  head,  and  the  ladies 
were  taking  their  pictures  with  their  cameras.  Uncle 
Sam  has  quite  a  job  to  convert  these  Filipinos  into 
good  and  useful  citizens. 

I  left  St.  Louis  on  the  evening  of  the  9th.  Crossed 
over  into  Canada  at  Detroit.  A  very  beautiful  river 
is  the  Detroit  River.  We  went  by  way  of  Niagara 
Falls,  and  reached  New  York  the  11th  day  of  June. 
I  put  up  at  the  Abingdon  Hotel,  and  took  in  the 
town ;  rode  about  fifty  miles  that  day,  over  Brook- 
lyn and  New  York,  on  the  elevated  cars.  I  went  fif- 
teen miles  in  one  direction,  but  did  not  get  out  of 
town.  Saw  a  great  many  strangers,  and  they  did 
not  seem  to  know  much  about  the  city.  I  went  to 
Coney  Island,  about  fifteen  miles  from  the  Hotel  at 
which  I  was  stopping.  I  did  not  know  what  the 
place  was  until  I  got  there,  and  there  seemed  to  be 
as  many  people  there  as  I  had  seen  at  the  World's 
Fair;  and  every  kind  of  a  show  and  all  kinds  of 
amusements,  but  I  did  not  care  to  take  them  in. 

Twelfth  day,  Sunday,  I  went  to  the  Plymouth 
Church  in  the  morning,  to  hear  the  great  Scotch 
preacher,  McNeill — a  large  congregation  and  a  good 
sermon.  The  text  was  "Work  and  hope  and  patient- 
ly wait  for  the  Salvation  of  the  Lord."  I  returned 
to  the  hotel,  and  in  the  afternoon  went  to  the  famous 
Flat  Iron  Building,  and  there  took  an  auto  with  fif- 
teen others.    The  machine  was  owned  by  the  Sight- 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  289 

Seeing  Company;  the  seats  were  very  elevated,  and 
there  was  room  for  25  people;  we  had  a  nice  com- 
pany. The  guide  stood  in  front,  with  his  face  to- 
wards the  company,  and  spoke  through  a  trumpet 
and  gave  us  a  short  history  of  the  noted  places ;  also 
gave  us  the  names  of  the  owners  of  the  fine  mansions 
as  we  passed  along,  and  the  cost  of  the  buildings; 
he  would  speak  of  nothing  that  cost  less  than  a 
million  (and  from  that  to  ten  millions),  unless  it 
had  some  historic  significance.  He  spoke  of  the 
Goulds,  the  Vanderbilts,  the  Astors,  Rockefelbrs, 
and  very  many  others,  and  showed  us  what  they 
had  done.  We  rode  through  Central  Park,  to  River- 
side and  saw  Grant's  Monument,  and  we  could  get 
a  good  view  of  the  Hudson  River  on  the  right  and 
some  nice  scenery  beyond ;  many  boats  sailing  hither 
and  thither;  and  on  the  left  magnificent  mansions, 
and  again,  on  my  right,  the  bank  was  lined  with 
well-dressed  people;  some  seated  on  nice  seats  that 
are  provided  by  the  city,  and  others  promenading, 
and  all  seemed  to  be  enjoying  themselves,  looking 
at  the  beautiful  sights  there  to  be  seen.  It  is  a  very 
broad  avenue,  and  several  lines  of  nice  shade  trees 
through  the  center,  and  a  great  many  motors,  lan- 
dau and  fine  carriage  turn-outs  could  be  seen ;  and 
as  I  looked  at  this  great  sight  I  thought  the  Amer- 
icans were  a  great  and  happy  people,  and  New  York 
a  wonderful  place. 

Thirteenth  day:  Remained  at  the  hotel  most 
of  the  day,  and  got  rather  lonesome  and  went  out  to 
buy  a  book;  had  to  go  eight  or  ten  blocks  before  I 
found  a  book  store,  but  found  a  saloon  on  almost 
every  corner.  I  went  on  board  ship  that  evening. 
The  Kaiser  Wilhelm  the  II.  is  a  very  large  boat,  and 
a  very  fine  one;  40,000  horse  power,  and  consumes 
600  tons  of  coal  per  day,  taking  75  men  to  put  it  on 


290  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

the  fire  places,  there  being  124  fire  places.     I  had  a 
very  good  bed  and  slept  well. 

Fourteenth  day :  I  was  on  deck  early,  in  time 
to  see  the  ship  sail.  It  was  a  great  sight  to  see,  as 
we  left  the  shore,  with  its  2000  passengers  waving 
their  white  handkerchiefs,  and  the  great  multitude 
on  shore  waving  theirs  in  return  and  bidding  us  a 
last  farewell.  We  steamed  out  of  New  York  harbor 
into  the  bay,  and  passed  the  Statue  of  Liberty  and 
New  York,  with  her  sky-scraping  buildings,  faded 
away  in  the  distance,  and  our  great  ship  glided 
through  the  deep  waters  at  a  rate  of  23  miles  an 
hour.  It  was  then  three  o'clock  and  we  had  had 
three  meals  already  that  day.  Later  the  bell  rang 
for  the  fourth,  and  there  was  a  concert  in  the  great 
dining  room  at  night,  the  Germans  being  great  lov- 
ers of  music. 

Fifteenth  day:  And  the  great  ship  is  plowing 
through  the  broad  ocean  at  a  rapid  rate,  and  leaving 
a  white  stream  of  foam  behind,  that  looked  like  a 
broad  avenue  as  far  back  as  we  could  see.  But  many 
of  the  passengers  were  feeling  bad  and  some  were 
trying  to  vomit.  Two  of  my  room  mates  were  sick 
and  my  head  was  whirling  around;  up  to  that  time 
I  had  kept  my  stomach  but  lost  my  appetite. 

Sixteenth  day:  I  was  sick  all  day,  but  the  sea 
was  quiet,  and  scarcely  a  ripple  on  the  surface  of 
the  deep.  We  overtook  an  American  war  ship ;  some 
said  it  was  the  Missouri.  We  also  saw  a  whale,  and 
that  was  all  the  excitement  the  passengers  had  that 
day.  Some  seemed  to  be  enjoying  themselves,  while 
others  were  holding  to  the  railing,  with  a  curve  on 
their  bodies,  and  seemed  to  be  in  awful  agony.  I  don't 
know  what  we  would  have  done  if  the  sea  had  gotten 
rough. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  291 

Seventeenth  day:  The  weather  was  perfectly 
beautiful;  there  was  scarcely  a  ripple  on  the  bosom 
of  the  great  deep.  I  felt  a  little  better,  but  my 
stomach  was  not  very  strong.  I  ate  no  supper,  and 
no  breakfast  that  mroning,  and  I  felt  that  I  did  not 
want  any  dinner.  I  called  for  a  cup  of  tea  and  some 
crackers,  and  thought  I  would  try  the  deck  where  I 
could  get  a  breeze. 

Eighteenth  day :  We  caught  up  with  and  passed 
several  ships,  but  nothing  strange  happened  that 
day.  We  had  beautiful  weather ;  made  564  miles  and 
beat  the  world's  record. 

Nineteenth  day :  Weather  was  fine,  and  we  were 
rapidly  plowing  along,  passing  other  ships  and  leav- 
ing them  in  the  rear,  with  a  number  of  them  in 
sight.  We  were  now  nearing  the  Land's  End,  and 
could  see  the  lights.  All  were  on  deck  looking  wtih 
as  much  interest  as  did  the  crew  of  Columbus  when 
they  discovered  America.  At  midnight  the  lights  of 
Plymouth  were  all  ablaze  in  front  of  us.  The  ship 
stopped  for  nearly  an  hour,  when  we  saw  a  boat 
coming  and  were  transferred  to  it,  three  or  four 
hundred  of  us.  Those  who  remained  on  the  ship — 
principally  Germans — were  all  on  deck.  They  had 
been  drinking  beer  most  of  the  night  and  were  feel- 
ing good.  They  bade  us  a  hearty  farewell,  shouting, 
singing  and  waving  their  handkerchiefs. 

The  twentieth  day  was  beginning  to  dawn;  we 
landed  and  our  baggage  was  inspected.  Before  my 
train  left  I  took  a  little  stroll  to  look  around  Ply- 
mouth. It  was  a  very  beautiful  place,  with  splendid 
sidewalks,  clean  streets  and  very  substantial  build- 
ings, of  uniform  height,  three  stories.  The  place 
known  as  "The  Hoe"  was  a  beautiful  place  and  over- 
looked the  city;  there  was  some  delightful  scenery 
in  view.    I  took  a  train  for  Lustleigh  and  was  soon 


292  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

going  at  great  speed  through  beautiful  Devonshire, 
passing  numerous  fields,  from  1  to  5  acres  in  size, 
mostly  in  clover  and  fine  grass.  Some  of  the  fields 
had  sheep  in  them  that  had  recently  lost  their  coats ; 
other  fields  had  fine,  fat,  lazy-looking  cattle,  in  clover 
knee  deep;  other  fields  were  in  cultivation.  These 
fields  were  all  enclosed  with  hedges,  with  nice  shrub- 
bery growing  on  top  and  beautiful  wild  flowers  on 
the  sides.  Sometimes  we  would  dash  into  a  forest 
almost  like  the  jungles  of  Africa,  and  the  next  mo- 
ment we  could  see  delightful  and  attractive  scenery. 
I  arrived  at  Lustleigh  and  was  met  at  the  station  by 
Mrs.  Amery,  my  cousin,  Mrs.  Dodd's  daughter.  They 
had  a  very  comfortable  place  and  made  me  feel  at 
home. 

Twenty-first  day :  I  visited  our  old  home.  I 
hired  a  trap,  and  Mrs.  Dodd,  my  cousin,  and  I  went 
to  Blackenstone  Rock,  and  I  made  my  way  to  the  top 
of  it.  The  steep  part  had  stone  steps  and  iron  rail- 
ing. I  looked  with  pleasure  at  the  beautiful  scenes ; 
the  hills  and  valleys  of  old  Devonshire  seemed  to  be 
at  their  best.  I  was  charmed  with  the  view  from 
every  quarter,  and  was  ready  to  exclaim  in  the  lan- 
guage of  the  poet : 

"How  dear  to  my  heart  are  the  scenes  of  my 
childhood, 
As  fond  recollections  present  them  to  view ; 
The  orchard,  the  meadow,  the  deep-tangled 
wildwood, 
And  all  the  loved  spots  that  my  infancy  knew." 

We  went  to  Moreton  and  I  went  through  the 
White  Hart  Inn,  and  went  to  Wray  Barton,  where 
I  was  born  and  my  father  and  my  grandfather  and 
my  great-grandfather  were  buried  from  that  place 
July  4,  1804,  and  Barn  Court.    We  had  a  very  pleas- 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  293 

ant  drive  and  an  enjoyable  time.     Everyone  seemed 
to  be  very  kind  and  courteous. 

Twenty-second  day :  Went  to  Newton  Market 
and  saw  some  fine  stock,  sheep  and  cattle,  sold  at 
auction;  sheep  ten  to  eleven  dollars  per  head;  one 
cow  and  calf  sold  for  about  ninety-five  dollars;  an- 
other for  one  hundred  and  thirty.  I  went  home  with 
Cousin  Jasper  Amery  to  Ippelpain,  and  stayed  one 
night  with  him. 

Twenty-third  day:  Went  to  Teignmouth  and 
stayed  with  John  Furneaux  a  few  days ;  he  had  a 
suite  of  rooms  rented,  and  some  of  his  wife's  people 
were  with  him.  He  was  in  a  beautiful  place  near 
the  beach,  and  made  me  feel  at  home. 

Twenty-fourth  day :  Went  to  Buckf astleigh  and 
went  through  the  woolen  mills  of  Hamlins  and  Fur- 
neaux and  saw  the  many  processes,  from  the  dirty 
wool  just  off  the  sheep's  back,  to  the  fine  cloth  suit- 
able for  ladies'  dresses  and  dress  suits  for  gentlemen. 
We  took  dinner  with  Mr.  Joe  Hamlyn,  at  his  splen- 
did mansion,  and  after  dinner  he  furnished  us  with 
a  carriage  and  driver  and  we  went  to  the  old  home 
of  the  Furneaux,  where  they  were  born  and  have 
lived  for  four  generations  and  probably  longer ;  they 
have  the  records  for  that,  and  the  old  house  may 
stand  many  years  longer.  Near  it  stands  a  fine  man- 
sion with  beautiful  grounds,  the  home  of  Wm.  Ham- 
lyn. We  went  to  the  old  established  church,  which 
was  built  many  hundreds  of  years  ago ;  there  was  a 
large  sepulchre  there  with  the  name  of  R.  Cabell,  the 
Lord  of  the  Manor  at  that  time,  date  1656,  and  I 
wondered  if  our  General  descended  from  that  stock. 
We  looked  at  many  places  that  were  very  ancient  and 
returned  to  Teignmouth. 

Twenty-fifth  day :     I  remained  at  the  hotel  all 


294  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

morning,  and  in  the  evening  took  a  boat  ride  on 
the  River  Teign  with  Mr.  John  Furneaux  and  Mr. 
Toop.  We  went  up  the  river  with  the  rising  tide  and 
came  back  with  the  outgoing  tide. 

Twenty-sixth,  Sunday:  Went  to  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  in  the  morning  and  the  Baptist  in 
the  evening,  and  went  to  two  open  air  services. 

Twenty-seventh  day :  Went  to  Newton  Abbott  in 
the  morning  with  Mr.  Toop  and  daughter,  and  went 
with  a  coaching  party  in  the  evening,  leaving  New- 
ton at  12  o'clock.  We  had  twelve  in  the  party,  om 
lady  from  St.  Louis,  and  our  driver  with  four-in- 
hand,  and  our  footman  blowing  his  horn.  A  jolly 
party  left  Newton  for  a  trip  over  the  Moor.  We  pass- 
ed beautiful  gardens  and  fields,  and  fine  mansions, 
and  many  less  pretentious  houses  nestled  away 
among  the  hills,  surrounded  by  beautiful  flower  gar- 
dens, and  I  certainly  think  that  that  country  de- 
serves the  name  of  the  Flowery  Kingdom.  We  soon 
reached  Haytor  and  stopped  for  an  hour  and  fifteen 
minutes,  and  most  of  us  with  some  difficulty  ascend- 
ed the  Haytor  Rock,  where  we  could  see  for  many 
miles  around.  It  was  a  beautiful  scene,  the  like  I 
never  expect  to  see  again  after  I  leave  Devonshire. 
We  took  our  lunch  here,  which  our  sharp  appetites 
relished.  Our  coach  was  ready,  and  with  step-ladder 
our  party  ascended  to  their  elevated  positions,  and 
off  we  drove  with  horn  blowing  across  the  moor,  and 
down  zig-zag  lanes,  into  deep  gorges,  passing  stone 
houses  covered  with  thatch.  Soon  we  reached  the 
River  Dart  and  crossed  over  an  ancient  stone  bridge, 
and  for  its  appearance  I  think  it  will  be  standing  a 
thousand  years  hence.  We  stopped  at  a  beautiful 
little  cottage  home  and  took  tea,  bread,  butter  and 
cake,  with  Devonshire  Cream,  that  all  seemed  to  en- 
joy.   We  again  ascended  our  lofty  perch  and  drove 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  295 

for  the  ancient  town  of  Ashburton,  and  stopped  at 
the  Golden  Lion  Family  Hotel,  and  the  landlady 
showed  us  through  the  garden.  I  will  not  attempt  to 
describe  it,  but  she  said  it  was  just  as  it  was  laid  off 
one  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago,  and  that  the  house 
was  much  older,  and  as  English  people  always  deal 
in  facts,  I  took  it  for  granted  that  it  was  all  so.  She 
said  she  had  pictures  and  sketches  of  the  garden  with 
dates  back  to  the  time  mentioned.  We  then  drove 
for  Newton  Abbot,  and  passed  through  the  town 
with  horn  blowing ;  stopped  in  front  of  the  hotel,  and 
our  drive  was  over,  and  I  bid  my  London  friends 
good-bye.  They  gave  me  their  address  and  invited 
me  to  come  and  see  them  when  I  reached  London. 
This  was  one  of  the  most  enjoyable  days  I  had  on 
the  trip. 

Twenty-eighth  day:  I  went  to  Blackenstone 
again  and  went  to  where  the  old  house  stood.  It  was 
pulled  down  about  two  years  ago,  but  the  barn  and 
garden  walls  seemed  to  be  just  as  they  were  when 
we  left  them,  but  it  looked  like  an  old,  deserted 
place,  and  it  made  me  feel  sad  when  I  thought  of  my 
parents'  struggles  here  on  this  poor  farm,  trying  to 
make  a  living,  when  Fate  seemed  to  be  against  them. 
But  I  think  it  was  all  for  the  best,  as  we  found  a 
country  with  better  opportunities,  and  the  family 
and  their  descendants  have  profited  by  the  change, 
and  again  I  will  say,  "It  was  all  for  the  best."  I  re- 
turned to  Morton  and  put  up  at  the  White  Hart 
Hotel.  The  old  place  is  kept  very  well  by  the  grand- 
daughter of  a  Mr.  Peters,  who  lived  across  the  street 
from  us  in  our  time.  I  went  to  the  old  Unitarian 
Church  and  had  the  sexton  to  let  me  in,  and  there 
found  the  graves  of  my  forefathers.  My  great-grand- 
father, buried  1804,  age  78  years;  grandfather  died 
1854,  age  87  years — both  named  Geo.  Jackson.  I  had 
the  gravestones  cleaned  up  and  the  lettering  repaint- 


296  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

ed,  and  had  some  photos  taken  of  them;  also  of  the 
old  church,  which  was  built  in  1802.  I  also  went  to 
the  Church  of  England,  which  is  very  ancient,  but 
no  one  seemed  to  know  its  age,  but  thought  it  was 
built  between  the  13th  and  15th  centuries.  Saw  many 
familiar  names  on  the  grave  stones,  some  as  far  back 
as  the  16th  century.  Saw  the  property  in  Morton 
once  owned  by  our  grandfather;  one  of  the  old 
houses,  the  one  our  grandfather  lived  in,  had  been 
torn  down,  and  a  new  one  built  in  its  place.  But  the 
other  is  still  standing,  with  all  the  outhouses,  still 
covered  with  thatch.  The  property  is  now  owned  by 
a  Mr.  Hewitt,  a  very  old  man,  and  he  said  he  bought 
it  from  a  George  Jackson  of  Ireland  thirty-five  or 
forty  years  ago.  The  place  descended  to  his  oldest 
son,  George  Jackson,  my  uncle. 

Twenty-ninth  day :  I  was  at  Mr.  Dadd's,  my 
cousin ;  they  were  very  kind  to  me  and  tried  to  make 
me  feel  at  home. 

Thirtieth  day :  We  all  went  to  Brixham  on  tho 
11  o'clock  train.  We  arrived  at  our  Uncle  George's 
old  place,  a  very  cozy  little  place  enclosed  with  high 
walls,  about  three  acres  of  it;  they  have  thirteen 
acres  in  all  and  almost  every  kind  of  fruit  that  grows 
in  England.  They  have  an  abundance ;  all  the  trees 
and  bushes  are  loaded  with  it,  and  it  was  a  gre<..c 
surprise  to  me  how  so  much  could  be  grown  on  so 
small  a  piece  of  ground.  There  I  met  Aunt  Ann 
Amery,  a  very  remarkable  woman,  aged  82  year-;. 
Her  erect  form  and  firm  and  steady  step,  and  clear 
mind  and  smiling  countenance,  which  has  grown 
beautiful  with  age,  made  a  deep  and  lasting  impres- 
sion on  my  mind.  She  is  one  of  those  happy  Chris- 
tians whose  life  has  been  a  blessing  to  others  and  I 
am  sure  that  when  she  passes  over  the  River  it  will 
be  with  a  radiant  smile  upon  her  happy  face.  I  spent 
a  pleasant  day  with  them. 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  297 

July  1st:     I  bid  my  dear  friends  good-bye,  and 
the  grand-daughter,  Susan  Ann,  went  with  me  to 
the  station.    She  is  a  very  sensible  and  business  girl, 
who  is  soon  to  be  married  to  a  young  man  from 
London.     I  bid  her  goodbye  at  the  station,  wishing 
her  much  happiness  and  long  life,  and  boarded  the 
train  for  Torquay  and  went  to  Geneva  Cottage,  to 
see  the  Misses  Henlys,  relatives  of  the  Morgans  of 
Dallas,  who  are  very  interesting  and  business  wom- 
en ;  one  of  them  showed  me  over  a  good  part  of  Tor- 
quay, which  is  a  very  beautiful  place,  said  to  be  the 
garden  spot  of  England.    Torquay  is  a  city  of  about 
40,000  people  and  noted  for  its  delightful  scenery, 
and  its  bracing,  healthy  sea-breezes.    I  was  delighted 
with  the  place.    I  put  up  at  a  hotel,  and  the  next  day 
engaged  a  seat  with  a  coaching  party;  there  were 
twenty-one  of  us,  including  the  footman  and  coach- 
man.   We  drove  out  of  Torquay  by  way  of  the  beach 
and  all  of  them  seemed  to  be  delighted  with  the  beau- 
tiful scenes,  and  our  comical  little  footman,  a  little 
more  than  four  feet  high,  with  a  tall,  white  hat  and 
a  horn  nearly  as  long  as  himself,  made  fun  for  the 
company.    We  had  a  pleasant  ride  and  a  delightful 
time,  taking  tea,  bread  and  butter,  cake  and  Devon- 
shire Cream  at  half-past  five,  and  again  driving  into 
Torquay  a  little  after  six  o'clock.    I  took  a  train  for 
Lustleigh  and  went  to  the  Kelly  farm  to  see  the  home 

folks. 

Sunday,  July  3rd :  Went  to  the  Episcopal  Church 
in  the  morning ;  the  services  consisted  of  responsive 
reading  and  prayers.  This  is  the  church  that  my 
father  and  mother  were  married  in.  I  went  to  the 
Baptist  Church  in  the  evening  and  heard  a  very  good 
sermon.  This  church  was  built  by  our  uncle,  John 
Amery,  and  is  a  very  pretty  little  stone  church.  He 
was  a  dissenter  and  became  a  prominent  Baptist 
preacher. 


298  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

July  4th :  I  spent  the  Glorious  Fourth  in  Teign- 
mouth,  but  I  never  found  a  man  in  England,  with 
the  exception  of  John  Furneaux,  who  knew  that 
America  had  such  a  holiday,  or  what  the  celebration 
of  the  Fourth  of  July  was  for. 

July  5th :  I  spent  this  day  in  Teignmouth  and 
went  to  several  concerts. 

July  6th :  Went  coaching  again ;  went  for  a  thir- 
ty-mile trip  over  Dartmoor.  We  took  dinner  at  the 
Haytor  Hotel  and  went  from  there  to  Widecombee, 
on  the  Moor,  which  is  a  historic  place.  The  ancient 
church,  with  tower  130  feet  high,  has  been  compared 
with  St.  Mary  Magdalene's  Church  at  Oxford.  Writ- 
ten in  large  letters  just  inside  the  church  tower  is 
an  account  of  an  awful  thunderstorm,  which  hap- 
pened Oct.  21st,  1638.  This  tragic  event  happened 
when  the  people  were  worshipping,  and  a  very 
graphic  description  is  given.  In  that  period  it  was 
directly  attributed  to  Satanic  influence.  There  were 
four  persons  killed  and  sixty-two  hurt.  One  man  had 
his  money  melted  in  his  pocket,  but  the  purse  was 
not  hurt.  This  place  I  have  heard  my  mother  speak 
of  often.  After  looking  over  this  fine  and  ancient 
church  we  again  took  our  seats  in  the  coach  and 
drove  for  several  miles  over  the  moor.  The  next 
place  of  interest  was  Grimespound,  a  place  of  the 
ancient  Britons,  of  about  three  acres,  enclosed  by  a 
stone  wall,  and  within  that  inclosure  several  very 
small  places  inclosed  by  a  stone  wall,  and  in  some 
places  could  be  found  stone  that  stood  up  with  one 
end  firmly  set  in  the  ground,  three  or  Tour  feet  high. 
Three  of  these  stones  would  support  an  immense  slab 
of  granite  stone  lying  flat  on  the  top  these  cromlech. 
No  one  seems  to  know  what  they  were  used  for ;  some 
think  for  shelter,  and  others  think  they  were  used 
for  sacrifice  or  worship.  After  viewing  the  remains 
of  these  ancient  Britons  we  ascended  the  high  hills 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  299 

of  Dartmoore  and  looked  around  at  some  of  the  most 
delightful  scenery  in  the  world,  that  almost  charmed 
us.  We  then  turned  toward  the  beautiful  valley  of 
Lustleigh  and  Bovey  Tracey;  and  the  6th  of  July, 
1904,  has  passed  away. 

July  7th :    I  decided  to  take  one  more  coach  ride 
over  the  Moor,  in  another  direction.    The  coach  left 
the  White  Hart  Inn,  Morton  Hampstead,  at  10:45 
a.  m.  to  return  6:35  p.  m.     This  time  we  drove  to 
Prince  Town,  rather  an  ancient  place.     The  pris- 
oners of  war  were  kept  here,  no  doubt  as  far  back 
as  William  the  Conqueror,  but  now,  and  in  times  of 
peace,  the  convicts  are  confined  here,  of  which  they 
now  have  1,400  on  hand.     They  work  them  in  the 
quarries  and  on  the  roads,  and  sometimes  in  the 
fields.    I  saw  several  hundred  thinning  out  a  field  of 
turnips.     We  stopped  here  at  what  seemed  to  be  a 
very  ancient  hotel,  built  of  granite.    We  looked  over 
the  place  for  an  hour  or  two,  then  headed  for  Mor- 
ton.   It  was  getting  cold,  the  north  wind  was  blow- 
ing over  the  Moor ;  we  put  on  our  overcoats  and  the 
ladies  their  wraps.    In  a  conversation  with  the  lady 
near  me  I  found  she  was  the  granddaughter  of  Par- 
son Clack,  of  Morton  Parish,  that  held  that  position 
in  1848  when  we  left  England.    I  had  intended  look- 
ing over  the  Parish  records,  which  are  kept  in  an 
iron  chest,  to  see  how  far  I  could  trace  back  the 
Jackson  family,  but  this  lady  said  she  was  thor- 
oughly familiar  with  the  records,  and  that  the  old 
records,  from  the  17th  century  back,  were  burned, 
so  I  decided  not  to  go  to  the  trouble  of  searching 
the   records.     Everybody  seemed  to  be  very  kind 
and  ready  to  give  me  all  the  information  they  could. 
We  reached  Moreton  and  drove  through  the  town 
with  horn  blowing,  and  I  took  the  train  for  Lustleigh 
and  reached  the  Kelly  farm  rather  tired. 

July  8th :    I  took  a  rest,  and  it  was  rather  warm. 


300  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

Saturday,  July  9th :  I  took  the  train  for  the 
ancient  City  of  Ashburton,  to  see  my  rich  cousins, 
John  and  Peter  Fabian,  Spark  Amery  of  Druid 
Farm.  They  received  me  very  kindly  and  I  spent 
three  days  with  them,  and  found  them  very  inter- 
esting, and  probably  the  best  posted  men  in  the  his- 
tory of  Devonshire  and  Dartmoore  to  be  found  in 
that  country,  and  it  seemed  that  nearly  everything 
had  a  history.  Some  of  their  furniture  they  showed 
me  was  over  300  years  old.  We  went  out  for  a 
walk  in  the  afternoon  and  he  showed  me  a  part  of 
his  farm,  which  was  once  occupied  by  the  ancient 
Britons  or  Druids,  and  his  farm  long  ago  took  the 
name  of  Druid  Farm.  The  Amerys,  my  cousins,  own 
a  part  of  the  old  Warren  Farm.  General  Warren, 
of  Revolutionary  fame,  that  fought  and  fell  at  Bun- 
ker Hill,  whose  monument  stands  at  Washington, 
was  of -Devonshire  stock.  I  have  the  names  of  his 
ancestors  and  his  pedigree  back  to  1325.  I  saw  the 
old  Warren  house;  it  is  still  standing  near  Ashbur- 
ton in  Devonshire.  My  cousins,  when  they  visited 
Canada  and  America,  they  also  visited  Washington 
to  look  at  the  monument  of  General  Warren. 

Sunday,  July  10th :  We  all  went  to  Sunday- 
school,  the  Congregational  Church.  Fabian  Amery 
is  superintendent.  They  were  celebrating  the  89th 
anniversary  of  the  school,  and  a  Mr.  Davies  of  Buck- 
fortleigh  helped  to  conduct  the  services.  He  preach- 
ed and  talked  to  the  children,  and  was  very  interest- 
ing. There  were  three  services  at  the  church  that 
day.  Mr.  Amery  seemed  to  be  holding  several  places 
of  honor  and  trust ;  he  sometimes  gives  lectures,  and 
is  known  as  Lieutenant  Col.  Amery.  He  is  the  sec- 
retary of  the  Devonshire  Club  and  the  Treasurer  of 
the  British  Club,  and  recently  he  and  his  brother 
were  apopinted  to  get  up  all  the  old  legends  of  Dart- 
moore.    I  think  for  years  they  have  been  looking 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  301 

up  this  history  of  Devon.  There  are  a  great  many 
cross  stones  in  many  different  places  in  Devon,  that 
he  said  were  planted  in  the  early  Christian  Age. 
These  stones  were  set  up  at  the  wells  and  watering 
places,  and  the  priest  would  come  and  talk  to  the 
people,  and  they  would  gather  there,  and  soon  rooms 
were  built  for  services;  as  the  gatherings  became 
larger,  more  room  was  added,  and  later  the  church 
was  built. 

There  was  said  to  be  a  cross  stone  in  Moreton, 
near  where  the  old  cross  tree  stood  for  300  years. 
That  tree  was  planted  to  mark  the  spot,  but  was  re- 
cently blown  down,  and  now  they  have  a  terrace 
there  and  a  cross  stone,  and  the  church  stands  not 
far  from  it.  That  old  tree  has  quite  a  history :  In 
the  17th  and  early  in  the  18th  century,  they  had 
parties  and  receptions  under  it.  I  and  my  brothers 
knew  it  when  we  were  boys,  and  upon  many  occa- 
sions platforms  were  built  from  the  high  walls  near 
it,  to  the  broad  boughs  of  the  tree,  large  enough  to 
hold  thirty  people,  and  as  many  as  seven  couples 
would  dance  at  one  time  in  the  old  tree. 
July  11th:     I  rested. 

July  12th :  Went  to  the  Kelly  Farm  and  took  a 
rest  with  the  home  folks,  until  the  fourteenth  day. 

July  14th:  I  felt  better;  went  to  Lustleigh 
Cleve,  which  is  a  very  high  point,  and  rather  difficult 
to  climb,  and  could  see  Blackenstone  Rock  and  Hey- 
lor  Rock ;  and  it  is  here  that  the  famous  Nut  Cracker 
stands,  that  our  mother  and  father  used  to  speak  of, 
which  is  a  large  rock  on  a  pivot  that  weighs  many 
tons.  By  standing  on  one  end  of  the  rock  the  other 
end  will  raise  high  enough  to  place  nuts  under  and 
then  step  forward  it  will  crack  the  nuts. 

July  15th :  Took  train  for  Weston  Super  Mare, 
the  home  of  Mr.  Hall,  Mr.  John  Furneaux'  son-in- 
law.     I  met  Mr.   Furneaux  there.     Weston  Super 


302  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

Mare  has  beautiful  lawns  and  sea  front,  and-  is  a 
summer  resort  and  watering  place.  Hundreds  of 
people  come  here  from  other  cities  to  spend  a  few 
weeks  and  enjoy  themselves,  many  of  them  bringing 
their  children.  There  were  concerts  on  the  beach  and 
fine  buildings  on  the  piers  out  in  the  sea,  and  the 
opera  and  theatre  goers  find  plenty  of  amusement. 
There  is  also  a  very  old  church  known  as  the  Uphill 
Church,  probably  800  or  1000  years  old.  The  build- 
ings here  are  all  of  stone  or  brick,  but  principally 
stone. 

Saturday,  July  16th :  Mr.  Furneaux  and  I  took 
a  train  to  the  ancient  city  of  Bristol.  We  first  went 
to  the  Cathedral,  which  is  very  ancient  and  very 
fine.  The  building  is  very  large  and  inside  has  mas- 
sive columns  and  high  arches,  all  of  solid  granite. 
It  is  about  800  years  old.  We  then  went  to  the  sus- 
pension bridge  that  spans  the  River  Avon.  It  is  245 
feet  above  high  water,  and  one  span  between  th<i 
piers  is  more  than  700  feet  long,  and  is  said  to  be 
one  of  the  greatest  pieces  of  engineering  skill  known 
in  the  world.  The  immense  height  of  the  perpen- 
dicular and  solid  granite  banks  on  one  side  and  the 
delightful  scenery  on  the  other,  makes  a  very  roman- 
tic looking  place.  This  place  was  the  home  of  Sebas- 
tian Cabot,  who  claimed  to  have  discovered  America 
before  Columbus,  and  there  is  a  monument  erected 
to  his  memory  on  a  very  elevated  piece  of  ground, 
said  monument  being  205  feet  high  and  overlooking 
the  city.  In  this  Christian  city  there  is  also  an 
orphans'  home  which  keeps  and  provides  for  2,000 
children.  This  home  was  founded  by  George  Muller 
in  1835,  and  the  most  remarkable  thing  about  it  is 
that  he  had  no  money,  but  prayed  and  trusted  to  the 
Lord  for  the  money  and  promised  Him  that  he  would 
do  the  work,  and  the  Lord  moved  upon  the  hearts  of 
the  people,  and  the  money  was  provided  and  2,000 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  303 

orphans  are  clothed  and  fed  and  educated  and  sent 
out  into  the  world  prepared  to  meet  its  realities,  and 
as  fast  as  they  go  others  take  their  places,  and  it  is 
said  that  none  of  them  have  yet  suffered  for  any- 
thing. Large  steamboats  sail  up  the  river  Avon  at 
high  tide  and  a  great  deal  of  business  is  done  here. 
The  electric  cars  are  different  from  ours,  being  two 
stories  high,  and  they  that  prefer  to  ride  on  top  and 
get  a  better  view  of  the  city  can  do  so. 

Sunday,  July  17th :  I  kept  my  bed  most  of  the 
day,  and  was  feeling  very  bad ;  thougiit  I  had  better 
send  for  a  doctor.  He  came  and  left  me  some  medi- 
cine, which  I  thought  would  soon  set  me  all  right. 

Monday,  July  18th:  I  still  kept  in  doors,  but 
felt  much  better,  and  thought  I  would  be  ready  to  go 
abroad  the  next  morning. 

July  19th :  Mr.  John  Furneaux  and  I  took  a  tram 
for  Wales,  passed  through  the  City  of  Bristol  and 
soon  entered  the  long  tunnel,  four  and  a  half  miles, 
and  passed  under  the  River  Severn.     We  were  in 
Wales  and  soon  reached  the  ancient  Abbey  of  Tin- 
tern.    Tintern  was  a  monastery  of  the  great  branch 
of  the  Benedictine  Order,    established    in    1098  at 
Citeaux  in  Bergundy.     Their  dress  was  white  and 
known  in  this  country  as  the  White  Monks.     This 
was  the  third  house  of  their  long  list  of  English 
houses  founded  in-  1131  by  Walter  De  Clare.     The 
length  of  the  building  East  to  West  is  228  feet, 
North  to  South,  150  feet ;  width  of  small  arches  30 
feet,  height  of  central  arch  70  feet,  height  of  east 
window  64  feet,  west  window  42  feet,  the  wall  above 
the  west  window  28  feet ;  width  of  east  door  14  feet. 
I  measured  one  of  the  columns,  30  feet  in  circum- 
ference, and  when  I  looked  at  these  strong  and  state- 
ly walls,  the  massive  columns,  the  high  and  grand 
arches,  the  graceful  simplicity  of  the  architecture, 
the  beauty  of  its  mouldings,  the  elegance  of  the  out- 


304  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

lines  and  the  purity  of  the  carving,  the  thought  oc- 
curred to  me  that  these  Monks  must  have  been  ac- 
tuated by  something  higher  than  earthly  motives, 
although  in  that  age  they  had  absolute  power  over 
the  community  and  could  command  obedience  and 
punish  disobedience  even  with  the  death  penalty. 
But  we  must  judge  them  by  the  age  in  which  they 
live;  they  were  the  pioneers  of  Christianity,  civiliza- 
tion and  culture,  and  were  self-denying  men,  waging 
war  with  barbarianism  and  heathenism,  and  but  for 
them  the  light  of  liberty  and  literature  and  science 
might  have  been  forever  extinguished.  After  an  hour 
at  the  Abbey  we  went  to  Chepstow  Castle.  This 
structure  is  boldly  reared  on  the  irregular  sloping 
edge  of  a  lofty  limestone  cliff,  rising  vertically  from 
the  River  Wye,  which  here  and  in  front  forms  a 
natural  fortress,  while  the  entire  front  of  the  castle, 
with  its  massive  round  towers,  is  displayed  across 
the  ascent  of  an  open  green  acclivity.  The  fortress 
is  of  the  Norman  period,  and  owes  its  erection  to 
William  Fitz  Osborn,  one  of  the  councillors  of  Wil- 
liam The  Conqueror.  He,  with  Odo,  the  brother  of 
William  The  Conqueror,  was  left  to  govern  England, 
and  William  the  Conqueror  withdrew  to  Normandy. 
Would  not  attempt  to  describe  this  castle,  but  its 
walls  are  12  feet  thick  and  very  high ;  it  has  a  vault- 
ed subterranean  chamber  overlooking  the  River 
Wye.  It  was  here  the  unhappy  Edward  the  II.  stay- 
ed for  a  time,  and  his  tragic  end  occurred  at  Berkley 
Castle  the  following  September.  Jasper,  Earl  of 
Pembroke,  and  the  Earl  of  Richmond,  was  also  here. 
Rodger  Vaughan,  a  valiant  man,  was  sent  by  Ed- 
ward to  take  the  Earl,  but  he  failed  and  suffered 
death  at  the  appointment  of  the  Earl,  and  after  said 
Earl  of  Richmond  became  Henry  VII.,  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Edward  the  IV.,  was  at  Chepstow  Castle. 
Jeremy  Taylor  was  a    prisoner   there,    one    of   the 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  305 

brightest  stars,  and  of  English  theological  writers. 
This  castle  was  garrisoned  by  Charles  First  until 
1645,  and  later  was  surrendered  to  Colonel  Morgan, 
Governor  of  Gloucester.  Later,  in  1648,  the  castle 
was  betrayed  during  the  absence  of  the  Governor, 
into  the  hand  of  Sir  Nicholas  Kemys,  and  then 
Cromwell,  being  in  the  neighborhood,  marched  upon 
the  castle  with  a  train  of  artillery,  but  the  castle  was 
so  obstinately  defended  that  he  withdrew.  But 
later  it  was  taken  and  Sir  Nicholas  Kemys  and  48 
men  slain,  and  120  prisoners  taken.  It  was  here 
that  Henry  Marten,  the  Regicide,  was  imprisoned 
for  twenty  years,  and  the  tower  that  he  was  confined 
in  is  known  as  the  Marten  Tower  to  this  day. 

July  20th :  I  took  a  rest,  although  the  weather 
was  beautiful  and  I  felt  like  going  out,  but  waited 
until  morning. 

July  21st:  Mr.  Furneaux  and  I  went  to  Lang- 
ford  and  took  a  coach  with  twenty  others,  and  cross- 
ed the  Down  12  miles  to  Cheddar,  going  up  the 
famous  Barrington  Valley,  and  we  saw  the  great 
rock  in  a  cleff  of  which  Mr.  Toplady  took  refuge  dur- 
ing a  thunder  storm,  and  there  composed  the  famous 
hymn  that  has  been  sung  around  the  world,  "Rock  of 
Ages  Cleft  For  Me." 

We  crossed  over  the  Down,  and  were  soon  in 
sight  of  the  Cheddar  Cliffs,  which  are  remarkable, 
rising  to  a  perpendicular  height  of  480  feet,  and 
look  very  much  like  the  walls  of  a  great  castle.  One 
of  the  rocks  is  known  as  Castle  Rock,  which  rears 
like  a  gigantic  tower  in  front  of  the  spec- 
tator ;  and  to  the  left  is  a  grand  mass  of  rocks  known 
as  Lion  Rock ;  on  top  of  this  mass  of  rocks  there  is 
a  very  large  stone  that  resembles  the  king  of  beasts, 
the  lion.  The  most  skillful  word-painting  would  fail 
in  an  attempt  to  describe  the  beauty  and  grandeur  of 
this  scene,  at  every  turn  and  winding  of  the  pass. 


306  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

There  are  two  great  caverns  here,  known  as  Gough 
and  Coxes  Caverns,  that  are  very  interesting.  The 
stalactites  and  stalagmites  are  equal  to  those  of  the 
famous  Mammoth  Cave  of  Kentucky.  Some  of  these 
masses  have  assumed  a  variety  of  fantastic  shapes, 
others  have  a  striking  resemblance  to  natural  ob- 
jects. We  left  the  cliffs  and  caves  of  Cheddar  and 
went  a  few  miles  to  the  town  of  Wells,  which  is  very 
ancient  and  is  noted  for  its  great  and  ancient  cathe- 
dral. We  were  admitted  and  entered  from  the  west 
door,  and  were  greatly  impressed  with  the  grandeur 
and  massive  character  of  the  continuous  range  of 
piers,  and  the  very  many  beautiful  arches.  We 
found  the  statues  of  many  bishops  and  monks, 
dated  back  to  the  10th  century.  The  first  church 
on  this  spot  was  founded  with  a  college  in  705,  and 
200  years  later,  in  the  reign  of  King  Edward  the 
Elder,  was  made  a  cathedral.  The  west  front  of 
the  cathedral  has  300  statues,  150  of  life  size;  21 
crowned  kings,  8  queens,  31  mitred  ecclesiastics; 
also  numerous  princes,  nobles  and  knights,  iind 
many  Bible  scenes  such  as  the  creation  of  man; 
Noah  building  the  Ark;  the  sentence  of  Cain,  and 
many  others;  and  many  New  Testament  scenes, 
Christ  before  Pilate;  the  twelve  Apostles  judging 
the  twelve  Tribes  of  Israel,  and  very  many  others. 
Many  of  the  statues  inside  the  church  have  been 
defaced,  and  it  is  said  to  have  been  done  by  the  sol- 
diers of  Cromwell.  This  cathedral  is  one  of  the 
most  ancient,  and  the  grandest  in  all  England.  In 
the  chapel,  on  the  north  side,  is  the  celebrated  as- 
tronomical clock,  constructed  by  Petros  Lightfoot,  a 
monk,  in  1325.  A  figure  strikes  the  quarters  with 
his  feet  on  two  small  bells ;  in  the  costume  of  Charles 
the  First,  above  the  dial  plate,  in  a  paneled  tower, 
are  four  mounted  figures  equipped  for  the  tourna- 
ment, and  they  revolve  in  opposite  directions  when 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas,  307 

set  in  motion,  by  the  striking  of  the  quarters.  It 
is  the  oldest  known  clock,  self-striking  the  hours 
with  a  count  wheel. 

July  22nd :  I  bade  my  friends  at  Weston  good- 
bye and  boarded  the  train  for  London;  arrived  there 
safe  and  put  up  at  the  Montague  Place,  Russell 
Square,  near  the  British  Museum. 

July  23rd:  Went  to  the  British  Museum;  it 
opens  for  visitors  at  10:00  o'clock;  I  went  from 
room  to  room,  and  remained  there  until  2  :00  o'clock, 
a  very  short  time  to  look  at  so  much,  but  that  which 
impressed  me  most  was  the  rooms  of  the  ancients, 
the  Egyptians,  the  Assyrians,  the  Romans,  the  Gree- 
cians  and  Athenians.  The  ancient  City  of  Ephesus 
has  a  room,  and  there  are  parts  of  the  massive  col- 
umns of  the  great  Temple  of  Diana,  where  Paul  was 
in  such  danger  of  being  pulled  to  pieces.  The  Egyp- 
tian statues  and  monuments  seemed  to  date  back 
further  than  any,  some  4,500  years  B.  C.  There 
were  statues  of  kings  and  queens  long  before  the 
time  of  Joseph,  some  standing  and  some  sitting. 
There  was  many  a  sarcophagus  in  a  good  state  of 
preservation,  nearly  4,000  years  old.  I  saw  many 
of  the  mummies  of  kings  and  queens,  and  immense 
statues  of  some  of  their  kings;  Pharoah,  who  op- 
pressed the  Children  of  Israel. 

The  history  of  the  Assyrians  reaches  nearly  as 
far  back.  I  saw  the  statues  of  a  number  of  their 
kings,  whose  names  are  mentioned  in  the  Bible. 
There  were  immense  winged  bulls  and  lions,  with 
human  heads,  chisseled  out  of  solid  rock,  that  stood 
about  fifteen  feet  high,  and  was  found  guarding  the 
entrances  of  these  ancient  palaces,  seven  or  eight 
hundred  years  B.  C.  There  could  be  seen  many  im- 
mense statues  of  the  Assyrian  Kings  mentioned  in 
the  Bible,  Shalmaneser,  Ashur  Banepal,  Sennach- 
erib, and  others.    They  have  on  their  clay  tablets  an 


308  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

account  of  the  creation  and  the  flood ;  and  there  is 
Jehu,  King  of  Israel,  bowing  down  before  Shal- 
maneser;  there  is  a  series  of  bricks  and  boundary 
stones,  showing  Babylonian  and  Assyrian  writing 
from  earliest  times,  the  Kings'  seals  with  impres- 
sions ;  clay  cylinders  and  tablets  of  historic  inter- 
est; the  Siege  of  Jerusalem,  and  submission  of 
Hezekiah. 

I  saw  the  Rosetta  Stone,  inscribed  with  a  decree 
in  the  priest's  writing  or  hierogliphics,  and  also  in 
the  peoples'  writing  in  Egyptian,  and  also  in  Greek ; 
this  inscription  gave  the  clue  through  the  Greek  how 
to  read  the  Egyptian. 

The  Roman  Gallery  showed  the  portrait  heads 
of  Roman  Emperors — Julian  Caesar,  Tiberius,  Nero, 
Titus.  Julius  Caesar  invaded  Briton  in  the  year  55 
B.  C.  and  the  Romans  held  the  country  until  410 
after  Christ.  Roman  Coffins  and  ornamental  pave- 
ment found  in  England.  I  saw  many  statues  of  the 
warriors,  statesmen  and  poets  of  ancient  Rome,  the 
most  powerful  nation  of  the  ancients. 

The  Greeks,  the  most  artistic  people  that  ever 
lived,  their  statues,  their  monuments,  their  sculp- 
tures, are  marvels  of  beauty.  There  is  on  exhibi- 
tion a  good  part  of  the  remains  of  the  Parthenon, 
or  the  Temple  of  the  Virgin  Goddess,  Athene,  built 
when  Athens  was  the  most  powerful  city  in  Greece ; 
built  on  the  Acropolis  or  fortified  Rock  Hill,  where 
Paul  preached  to  the  learned  Athenians.  The  col- 
umns are  immense  and  the  sculpture  beautiful. 

I  went  to  St.  Paul's  Cathedral  in  the  evening; 
the  history  of  the  building  is  very  well  known ;  but 
will  say  it  is  grand  on  the  inside,  such  an  immense 
dome.  There  can  be  seen  here  the  statues  of  Eng- 
land's greatest  warriors,  statesmen  and  poets,  from 
the  eleventh  century  down  to  the  present  time.  I 
also  went  to  Westminster  Abbey,  which  is  an  im- 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  309 

mense  building,  in  the  form  of  a  cross  laid  on  the 
ground.  The  visitors  pay  sixpence  each  and  the 
guide  shows  them  through  the  chapel  and  explains 
everything  of  interest.  It  was  founded  by  Edward 
the  Confessor,  who  died  in  1065,  but  the  building 
has  been  added  to  and  it  is  a  building  of  five  cen- 
turies; as  it  now  stands,  the  successive  kings  and 
queens  have  been  crowned  since  Edward  the  Con- 
fessor, and  the  old  chair  they  sat  in  when  crowned, 
is  not  .much  the  worse  for  wear;  and  here  most  of 
them  have  been  buried.  The  princes  who  were  mur- 
dered in  the  Tower  lie  here.  There  are  statues  and 
monuments  almost  without  number,  and  as  I  looked 
upon  the  last  resting  place  of  these  kings  and 
queens,  this  thought  occurred  to  me,  "Life  is  but  a 
span,  and  the  king,  like  the  beggar,  soon  passes 
away." 

This  building  was  occupied  by  Parliament  for 
thre  centuries.  It  was  the  cradle  of  the  Parlia- 
mentary Government  of  England,  and  of  her  Colon- 
ies. 

Sunday,  July  24th :  Went  to  Spurgeon's  Taber- 
nacle and  heard  Mr.  Thomas  Spurgeon  preach  in 
the  morning;  in  the  afternoon  drove  through  the 
city,  looking  at  the  places  of  interest. 

July  25th  :  Went  to  the  museum  in  the  morning, 
and  in  the  evening  went  to  the  zoological  garden 
and  looked  at  the  animals  and  birds,  I  think  almost 
every  kind  known  to  man  is  there. 

July  26th:  I  rode  over  the  city.  The  principal 
travel  on  the  streets  is  in  two-story  busses,  and  on 
many  of  the  streets  it  looks  like  a  moving  mass  of 
humanity;  all  of  them  seem  to  want  to  ride  on  top, 
which  is  very  well  seated  and  the  streets  are  good. 
They  are  paved  with  wood,  asphalt  and  stone,  but 
principally  wood,  and  the  blocks  are  in  the  shape  of 
brick,  but  a  little  larger,  and  put  down  edgeways, 


310  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

and  so  smooth  that  wagons  make  but  very  little 
noise;  but  where  the  stone  pavement  is  there  is  a 
good  deal  of  racket.  After  riding  over  the  streets 
of  London  for  days,  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  there 
are  more  street  repairs  needed  on  Elm  and  Main 
streets  of  Dallas  than  in  all'  of  London.  The  wood 
seems  to  be  preferred  to  asphalt,  but  it  is  hard  to 
find  a  break  in  either  wood  or  asphalt,  and  there  are 
hundreds  of  miles  of  it  there,  and  very  heavy  travel 
on  most  of  them.  London  builds  70  miles  of  streets 
annually. 

July  27th :  Left  London  for  Paris ;  took  train  at 
Charing  Cross  and  reached  Folkstone  at  4:00 
o'clock,  and  boarded  a  steamboat  for  Boulogne ; 
was  two  hours  crossing  the  Channel.  It  was  raining 
and  I  went  below  and  got  very  sick,  and  it  was 
with  difficulty  I  made  my  way  to  the  deck;  great 
drops  of  perspiration  came  out  on  my  face,  and  all 
over  my  body,  and  my  head  seemed  to  go  round  and 
round,  and  my  stomach  was  trying  to  turn  over,  and 
in  this  awful  agony  I  held  to  the  railing  and  leaned 
my  head  upon  it.  But  we  were  now  drawing  near 
the  land,  and  I  tried  to  cheer  up  by  singing: 
"In  that  sweet  bye  and  bye, 

We  shall  land  on  that  beautiful  shore, 

Where  stomachs  shall  cease  to  revolve 
And  never  turn  o'er  any  more." 

We  reached  the  shore  and  there  was  a  train 
awaiting  us  for  Paris,  and  I  entered  the  car  between 
a  sweat  and  a  shiver,  and  fell  into  a  cushioned  seat 
and  rested  easier,  and  my  stomach  settled  back  to 
its  normal  condition,  and  we  went  at  almost  a  light- 
ning speed  toward  Paris,  which  is  the  glory  of  the 
Frenchman.  We  reached  the  city  at  9  :30  p.  m.  Car- 
riages were  awaiting  us  and  we  were  driven  rapidly 
away  through  the  glare  of  electric  lights,  to  the 
Hotel  Dominicia,  and  there  we  were  met  by  polished 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  311 

waiters  and  shown  to  our  elegant  apartments.  We 
were  all  under  the  control  of  Cook  &  Son,  the  excur- 
sionists. 

July  28th — 9:30  a.  m. :  Up  came  the  coach  and 
four,  and  all  were  ready  to  go  and  see  the  sights, 
and  there  were  many  sights  and  places  of  interest 
to  be  seen  in  this  city — the  monuments,  the  statues, 
the  parks  and  fountains,  the  cathedrals,  the  palaces, 
the  towers  and  beautiful  gardens;  the  art  galleries 
so  full  of  interest  and  history,  would  take  weeks  to 
look  through,  and  the  Pantheon,  the  place  of  many 
gods,  all  very  interesting,  and  the  grand  boulevards, 
of  an  evening  and  Sundays  is  quite  a  sight ;  nothing 
like  it  in  England  or  America  either. 

July  29th:  Went  to  Versailles,  17  miles  from 
Paris;  the  gardens  and  palaces  are  the  attractions 
there,  and  the  history  of  this  place  includes  much 
of  the  history  of  France.  Our  guide  showed  us 
through  the  great  palace,  the  rooms  that  were  occu- 
pied by  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  and  his  carriages  of 
state,  with  many  others,  that  cost  almost  fabulous 
sums  of  money. 

The  rooms  of  Marie  Antoinette  are  still  intact, 
and  the  private  stairway  by  which  she  fled ;  but  later 
she  and  her  husband,  Louis  the  16th,  were  the  first 
victims  of  the  guilotine.  In  these  rooms  are  many 
immense  oil  paintings,  said  to  be  the  best  selections 
in  the  world;  they  represent  many  of  the  historic 
scenes  of  France.  There  was  an  immense  and  mass- 
ive frame  about  18  by  25  feet,  representing  the  cor- 
onation of  Josephine,  Napoleon's  first  wife,  and  not 
far  from  it  was  the  picture  of  Josephine  after  the 
divorce;  and  there  was  a  large  picture  of  Jeanne 
d'Arc  bestride  her  horse  leading  the  French  army 
to  victory,  and  not  far  from  it  she  is  shown  in  a 
painting  lashed  to  a  stake  and  ready  for  the  flames. 
In  another  place  they  have  a  large  bronze  statue 


312  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

of  her,  and  she  is  represented  bestriding  her  horse, 
bare-headed  and  carrying  a  flag  in  her  right  hand. 
The  changes  which  this  palace  has  witnessed  are 
pages  in  the  history  of  France.  Louis  the  Four- 
teenth died  here;  Louis  the  Fifteenth  was  born  and 
died  here.  'Twas  here  the  attempt  was  made  to  as- 
sassinate the  last  named  King.  Louis  the  Sixteenth 
was  forcibly  carried  away  from  here,  and  after  the 
fall  of  Napoleon  it  was  occupied  by  Louis  the  Eigh- 
teenth, and  Charles  the  Tenth  and  Louis  Phillippi, 
and  in  1855  good  Queen  Victoria  was  received  here 
by  Napoleon  the  Third.  In  1871  it  was  occupied  by 
the  German  forces,  and  here  King  William  of 
Prussia  was  proclaimed  Emperor  of  Germany,  and 
after  the  departure  of  the  German  forces  it  became 
the  seat  of  government  under  the  presidency  of  M. 
Thiers. 

The  great  number  of  rooms,  with  the  furniture 
of  the  past  kings  and  queens,  the  costly  jewels  of 
Marie  Antoinette,  and  the  numerous  pictures  of  bat- 
tle scenes,  and  of  the  royalty  of  past  ages,  is  too 
much  to  be  seen  in  so  short  a  time. 

July  30th :  We  now  turn  to  Place  de  la  Concorde, 
the  finest  place  in  Paris,  and  indeed  in  Europe. 
Many  fine  buildings  can  be  seen  from  this  place;  it 
was  completed  in  its  present  form  in  1854.  This 
site  has  a  tragic  history.  There  is  an  obelisk  stand- 
ing here,  and  a  sister  Monolith  to  Cleopatra's 
Needle.  During  the  Reign  of  Terror  in  1793  the 
guilotine  was  erected  here,  on  the  spot  where  now 
stands  the  obelisk,  and  Louis  the  Sixteenth  and 
Marie  Antoinette  were  the  first  victims,  and  in  two 
years  upwards  of  2,000  persons  were  decapitated. 
It  was  here  the  Prussian  army  camped  in  1871. 
There  are  eight  fine  statues  in  the  square,  repre- 
senting the   chief  towns   of   France — Lyons,   Mar- 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  313 

seilles,  Bordeaux,  Nantes,  Rouen,  Brest,  Lille  and 
Strasburg  (now  German). 

Foreign  armies  camped  here  three  times — the 
Allied  armies  in  1814,  the  British  in  1815  and  the 
Prussians  in  1871.  The  army  of  Versailles  attacked 
the  Communists  here  in  1871. 

July  30th:  Went  to  the  Trocadero  Palace  and 
Garden.  The  palace  is  in  the  shape  of  a  crescent  and 
the  center  consists  of  a  circular  edifice  of  vast  pro- 
portions, surmounted  by  a  dome  which  is  173  feet 
in  diameter,  exceeding  the  width  of  St.  Peter's  at 
Rome,  or  St.  Paul's  of  London,  and  on  each  side  of 
the  building  are  fine  proportioned  towers,  one  of 
which  we  ascended  by  means  of  an  immense  ele- 
vator, and  got  a  splendid  view  of  the  city  of  Paris. 

Effel  Tower  I  also  ascended.  This  enormous  un- 
dertaking is  a  monument  surpassing  anything  of  the 
kind  hitherto  erected;  it  completely  dwarfs  into  in- 
significance every  public  building.  The  tower  has 
three  platforms,  and  is  comfortably  arranged  for 
many  hundreds  of  visitors  at  a  time.  The  third 
platform  is  863  feet  high ;  the  total  height  985  feet. 
To  view  the  city  from  the  top  of  it  is  little  more  than 
a  map.  The  view  over  France  is  superb,  extending 
fifty  miles,  until  the  River  Seine  looks  like  a  mere 
silver  ribbon.  There  is  a  military  wall  33  feet  high 
that  surrounds  Paris,  about  27  miles  in  circum- 
ference, constructed  by  order  of  M.  Thiers  in  1841, 
at  a  cost  of  $25,000,000.  At  various  intervals  six- 
teen detached  forts  outside  the  walls,  mounted  with 
heavy  artillery,  for  the  defense  of  the  city. 

Sunday,  July  31st:  Went  to  Effel  Tower  in  the 
morning  and  to  the  grand  boulevard  in  the  evening. 
August  1st:  Took  a  train  for  Boulogne,  and 
there  took  boat  for  Folkestone,  and  crossed  the  Chan- 
nel-; the  weather  clear  and  sea  calm,  and  reached 
London  in  the  evening,  rather  tired. 


314  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

August  2nd:  Went  to  the  Tower  of  London, 
which  has  a  history  of  a  thousand  years.  Here  were 
the  old  city  walls,  built  by  the  Romans,  and  rebuilt 
in  885  by  King  Alfred,  and  later  in  1078,  by  order  of 
Wm.  The  Conquer,  the  work  of  building  was  going 
on.  This  tower  has  been  an  awful  history  of  blood. 
'Twas  here  that  Anne  Boleyn,  second  wife  of  Henry 
the  Eighth,  and  Kathrine  Howard,  fifth  wife,  was 
beheaded,  and  Lady  Jane  Grey,  and  Margaret,  Coun- 
tess of  Salisbury ;  and  Jane,  Viscountess  of  Rockford, 
and  Robert  Devereaux,  Earl  of  Essex,  and  Lord 
Hastings,  and  Lord  Guildford  Dudley,  and  many  oth- 
ers were  imprisoned  and  beheaded,  and  the  children, 
Edward  Fifth  and  brother,  imprisoned  and  murder- 
ed here,  supposed  to  have  been  done  by  order  of 
Richard  the  Third.  Here  lie  the  old  axe  and  block 
that  were  used  to  sever  the  heads  from  the  bodies 
of  those  unfortunates.  Here  is  the  chapel  that  must 
have  seen  the  devotions  of  William  the  Conqueror 
and  family.  We  find  here  in  the  armory  the  armor 
used  in  the  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  centuries,  for 
horse  and  man,  weighing  from  60  to  120  pounds, 
Henry  the  Eighth's  weighing  81  pounds ;  both  man 
and  beast  are  represented  here  with  the  armor  on 
and  ready  for  war.  Here  are  also  the  crown  jew- 
els and  crowns.  The  king's  crown  occupies  the  high- 
est place  in  the  double  case  that  forms  the  English 
Regalia.  St.  Edward's  crown  seems  to  be  the  model 
from  which  all  other  crowns  have  been  fashioned. 
The  royal  sceptre  and  other  magnificent  regal  em- 
blems, the  annointing  spoon,  and  the  eagle  for  the 
annointing  oil,  and  the  baptismal  font,  used  in  the 
christening  of  sovereigns'  children,  and  many  other 
regal  emblems ;  two  swords  of  Justice,  one  ecclesias- 
tical, one  civil,  and  the  Sword  of  Mercy,  pointless, 
the  blade  40  inches  long.     We  find  every  make  of 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  315 

gun  and  cannon  here  that  have  ben  used  in  modern 
warfare. 

The  Tower  is  not  so  high  as  I  expected  to  see,  but 
very  much  larger.  There  are  18  acres  of  ground, 
and  it  is  a  place  of  many  towers  and  buildings,  and 
each  one  has  a  name,  such  as  the  Bell  Tower,  the 
Bloody  Tower,  the  Lion  Tower,  the  Middle  Tower, 
and  others.  There  were  the  implements  of  torture, 
used  during  the  Spanish  Inquisition;  the  thumb- 
screw, the  scavenger's  daughter,  for  confining  the 
neck  and  hands  and  feet,  and  also  the  so-called  collar, 
taken  from  the  Spanish  Armada. 

August  3rd :  Went  to  the  West  of  London,  which 
seems  to  be  more  modern;  many  very  large  estab- 
lishments ;  the  dry  goods  or  drapery  houses  seem  to 
be  the  largest. 

August  4th:    Not  well,  remained  at  the  hotel. 
August  5th :     Felt  better,  but  thought  I  had  bet- 
ter remain  at  hotel  and  rest. 

August  6th :    Took  a  street  car  and  went  to  East 
London ;  went  through  the  famous  White  Chapel  dis- 
trict; there  seems  to  be  a  rather  hard  class  of  people 
in  that  part  of  the  city.     The  streets  leading  from 
London  proper  to  the  White  Chapel  district  were  jam- 
med with  all  kinds  of  traffic,  and  the  cars  got  along 
very  slowly.    It  took  me  over  half  a  day  to  go  there 
and  back.    I  went  to  Madame  Tussard's  Exhibition 
in  the  evening.     This  institution  was  founded  more 
than  120  years  ago,  in  the  city  of  Paris,  prior  to  the 
great  revolution,  and  about  ninety  years  ago  it  was 
moved  to  England,  and  has  become  permanent  and 
very   popular   in   London.     She  has   exhibited   the 
collections  for  fifty  years,  and  her  sons  and  grand- 
sons up  to  the  present.     The  talents  of  the  family 
have  been  employed  upon  the  exhibition  since  its 
foundation;  and  these  wonderful  life-like  and  life- 
size  wax  figures  dressed  in  the  costume  of  the  age 


316  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

in  which  they  lived,  their  features  having  a  strik- 
ing resemblance  to  the  parties  they  represent;  and 
most,  or  all  of  the  royalty  of  the  past  ages,  of  Eng- 
land and  France,  together  with  most  of  the  historic 
scenes,  are  represented  in  these  vast  chambers,  al- 
most life-like.  There  is  a  life-like  figure  of  every 
king  and  queen,  giving  the  length  of  time  they 
reigned,  the  coronation  scenes ;  the  murder  of  the 
princes  in  the  Tower;  the  execution  of  Mary  Queen 
of  Scotts,  the  executioner,  the  block  and  all  of  the 
parties  who  took  part  in  that  awful  scene ;  the  scene 
of  the  murder  of  Thomas  A.  Becket  in  1170;  the 
scene  of  King  John  signing  Magna  Charter;  there 
were  life-like  figures  of  most  of  our  presidents  and 
great  men ;  also  of  the  great  men  of  England :  John 
Knox,  Shakespeare  and  Cromwell,  and  a  host  of 
others.  It  is  worth  curious  remark  that  almost  the 
first  blood  of  the  Revolution  in  France  was  shed  in 
consequenceof  abroil engendered  by  two  figures  mod- 
eled by  Curtis,  the  founder  of  this  institution.  Some- 
well-dressed  people  obtained  from  the  Cabinet  in  the 
Palais  Royal  the  bust  of  a  recently  disgraced  min- 
ister. The  bust  was  veiled  with  black  crepe,  to 
symbolize  the  popular  mourning  for  the  minister's 
downfall,  and  they  were  attacked  by  the  soldiers  and 
the  bust  cut  to  pieces  and  the  parties  shot,  several 
losing  their  lives,  and  this  may  be  termed  the  begin- 
ning of  Madame  Tussard's  Exhibition.  Two  days 
after  this  occurred  the  storming  of  the  Bastille. 

Sunday,  August  7th :  I  rested.  Everything  was 
very  quiet  in  London  on  Sunday,  quite  different  from 
Paris ;  there  business  seems  to  go  on  about  the  same 
as  other  days,  and  a  great  many  of  the  workmen 
don't  seem  to  know  when  Sunday  comes.  It  is  a 
holiday  for  a  great  many  others. 

August  8th :     I  took  train  for  Liverpool,  passing 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  317 

through  Bedfordshire  and  Nottinghamshire  and 
Derbyshire,  and  several  other  shires.  Derbyshire  is 
very  hilly  and  looks  something  like  Devonshire.  We 
passed  the  town  where  the  rich  Duke  of  Devon 
lives.  In  several  of  the  other  counties  harvesting 
was  in  full  blast;  could  see  a  good  many  self-binders 
at  work,  and  some  old  machines  that  raked  the 
grain  off,  such  as  we  used  35  years  ago.  In  France 
nearly  the  whole  country  between  Boulogne  and 
Paris  was  covered  with  wheat  and  oats,  and  har- 
vest was  in  full  blast  there,  and  they  were  using 
about  the  same  kind  of  machinery  as  in  England. 

August  9th :  And  I  am  at  the  Shaftesbury  Hotel 
in  Liverpool.  I  looked  around  over  the  city  a  little, 
but  did  not  find  anything  very  interesting  at  first. 
Went  to  St.  George's  Square.  The  Town  Hall  is  on 
one  side,  rather  a  large  building,  with  numerous 
massive  columns,  and  guarded  in  front  by  four  im- 
mense lions;  and  upon  the  right  is  a  monument  of 
Queen  Victoria,  mounted  'on  a  great  charger,  and 
upon  the  left  Prince  Albert,  mounted  in  like  manner. 
On  the  other  side  of  the  building  is  a  very  beautiful 
flower  garden,  with  several  monuments,  the  central 
figure  being  the  monument  of  the  late  Wm.  Glad- 
stone, the  base  being  over  twenty  feet  in  diameter, 
and  he  stands  erect  on  said  monument,  his  left  hand 
resting  on  a  stack  of  books,  and  upon  either  side  are 
two  large-winged  female  statues,  in  sitting  posture, 
the  one  on  the  right  holding  the  Bible  in  her  hand 
and  representing  Truth ;  the  one  on  the  left  holding 
the  balances  in  her  hand  and  representing  Justice; 
and  on  the  back  two  men  are  shaking  hands  and 
representing  the  Brotherhood  of  Man ;  and  on  the 
front  is  written,  "Wm.  Gladstone,  born  at  Liverpool 
Dec.  29th,  1809.    Died  May  19th,  1898." 

There  is  also  in  the  middle  of  the  Square  an  im- 
mense monument  of  the  Duke  of  Wellington,  the 


318  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

largest  in  England,  over  30  feet  in  diameter,  at 
the  base,  and  155  feet  high. 

I  then  went  to  the  Mueum,  which  is  not  so  large 
as  the  British  Museum,  but  some  things  are  on  exhi- 
bition there  that  are  not  seen  in  the  British  Museum. 
I  saw  the  skeleton  of  a  whale  that  was  caught  in 
the  River  Mersey.  It  was  resting  on  a  frame  made 
for  that  purpose,  and  was  about  40  feet  long,  and 
could  have  swallowed  Jonah  very  easily,  without 
scratching  his  throat.  I  also  saw  the  skeleton  of  an 
immense  deer,  that  was  found  in  the  bogs  of  Old 
Ireland.  It  is  said  the  species  have  become  extinct.  I 
think  from  the  ground  to  the  top  of  his  horns  was 
about  ten  feet,  and  the  horns  from  tip  to  tip  seven 
or  eight  feet.  Old  Ireland  in  the  past  has  produced 
great  animals  as  well  as  great  men.  I  then  went  to 
the  art  gallery — I  had  only  a  short  time  until  our 
ship  sailed.  As  I  aproached  the  building  I  took  care- 
ful notice  of  two  large  statues  in  a  sitting  posture, 
one  on  the  right,  Michael  Angelo,  born  1474,  died 
1565.  The  one  on  the  left,  Raphael,  born  1483,  died 
1520.  There  were  many  large  and  beautiful  paint- 
ings in  these  galleries,  but  not  so  great  a  collection 
as  I  saw  at  Varsailles. 

The  policemen  of  the  great  cities  of  England  are 
very  courteous  and  kind,  and  ready  to  give  you  all 
the  information  they  can,  especially  the  policemen  of 
London ;  I  think  they  are  a  very  fine  body  of  men, 
intelligent,  kind,  courteous  and  civil,  and  I  think 
they  must  have  been  selected  with  much  care.  One 
thing  struck  me  very  forcibly — the  great  respect  the 
people  had  for  the  law.  It  is  in  this  the  strength  of 
England  lies. 

I  will  conclude  by  saying  that  when  I  think  of 
the  history  that  England  has,  and  her  colonies,  and 
the  countries  she  controls,  and  the  love  and  patriot- 
ism that  is  shown  by  them  for  the  Mother  Country, 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  319 

and  the  influence  she  has  over  the  world,  I  do  not 
wonder  at  an  Englishman  being  an  Englishman, 
and  claiming  her  protection  in  every  country  and 
every  clime. 

The  policemen  in  Paris  I  could  not  understand ; 
I  never  spoke  to  one  that  could  speak  English ;  and 
in  regard  to  Paris,  with  all  her  splendor,  I  do  not 
think  I  should  like  to  live  there,  after  going  through 
the  market  places  and  seeing  what  they  sell  there  for 
people  to  live  on,  such  as  snails  and  frogs  and  crabs, 
and  horse  and  mule  meat,  and  many  other  unpal- 
atable things. 

August  10th :  And  we  are  on  board  of  the  Oceanic, 
a  ship  of  the  White  Star  Line,  and  are  steam- 
ing out  upon  the  high  sea,  and — England  is  fading 
away  in  the  distance,  and  I  must  say  farewell  to  the 
shores  of  Old  England  forever.  Farewell  to  thy 
great  and  ancient  cities.  Farewell  to  thy  people, 
whose  power  and  influence  have  encircled  the  globe. 
Farewell  to  old  Devonshire,  the  place  of  my  birth. 
Farewell  to  my  old  home,  whose  ancient  walls  shel- 
tered and  protected  me  in  infancy.  Farewell  to  thy 
ancient  hills.  Farewell  to  thy  delightful  scenery. 
Farewell  to  the  quaint  old  churches,  the  towers  and 
spires  of  which  have  pointed  heavenward  for  cen- 
turies. Farewell  to  thy  old  church  bells,  whose 
chimes  and  warning  notes  have  been  wafted  out 
upon  the  morning  breeze  for  ages  past,  notifying 
the  villagers  that  it  was  time  to  meet  for  worship. 
Farewell  forever.  Farewell  to  the  graves  of  my 
forefathers.  Farewell  to  the  monuments  and  grave- 
stones that  stand  as  faithful  sentinels  to  mark  the 
spot  of  their  last  resting  place,  forever  farewell ! 
Farewell  to  thy  ancient  castles,  whose  strong  walls 
have  been  a  protection  and  means  of  defense  in  the 
Dark  Ages  that  are  past.  Farewell,  forever  fare 
thee  well !    Farewell  to  my  friends  and  relatives  who 


320  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

have  received  me  so  kindly,  and  treated  me  so  royal- 
ly; with  a  loving  heart  I  must  bid  you  a  last  fare- 
well, hoping  that  a  kind  Providence  will  provide  a 
meeting  place  for  us  in  the  Great  Beyond.  But  for 
the  present,  farewell! 

Thursday,  August  11th:  The  sky  was  bright  and 
clear,  and  it  was  cold  enough  for  an  overcoat  on  deck, 
and  we  were  at  anchor  at  Queenstown.  The  land  was 
in  front  and  on  either  side,  and  it  looked  like  a  great 
lake,  with  only  a  small  opening  in  the  rear  to  get 
out.  It  was  a  very  pretty  scene,  and  most  of  the 
passengers  were  on  deck  looking  at  the  surround- 
ings. There  were  a  number  of  small  boats,  with 
fruits  and  other  things  for  sale,  alongside  our  ship, 
and  the  passengers  were  having  a  good  deal  of  sport 
pulling  things  up  in  baskets.  And  we  saw  fourteen 
black  looking  boats  that  were  said  to  be  torpedo-boat 
destroyers,  lying  in  the  harbor.  The  sea-gulls  were 
very  much  in  evidence,  and  large  flocks  of  them  were 
hovering  around,  their  keen  eyes  detecting  every 
small  thing  lying  upon  the  surface  of  the  sea.  The 
mail — a  very  large  quantity — was  delivered  on  board 
our  ship,  and  we  made  another  start  and  passed 
along  the  coast  of  Ireland,  and  passed  the  lighthouse 
on  the  Rock  of  Fastness,  65  miles  from  Queens 
Town.  The  weather  was  clear  and  cool,  a  light 
breeze  was  blowing,  and  our  great  ship,  with  2,000 
passengers,  was  gliding  smoothly  along.  She  was  705 
feet  in  length,  and  one  of  the  largest  Ocean  Grey 
Hounds,  but  she  was  not  making  as  good  time  as  did 
the  Kaiser. 

Friday  morning:  It  was  raining;  the  deck  was 
sloppy,  and  the  wind  cold.  The  sea  was  a  little 
choppy  and  some  of  the  passengers  were  getting 
sick.  Noon — and  the  gong  sounded  for  dinner,  and 
only  about  two-thirds  of  the  passengers  appeared  at 
the  table;  one  of  my  room-mates  was  sick,  and  it 


Sixty  Years  in  Texas.  321 

was  all  that  I  could  do  to  hold  up.    The  clouds  rolled 
by  and  the  rain  was  over  for  the  time. 

Saturday,  the  13th:  I  was  sick  and  kept  my 
bed  all  day. 

Sunday,  14th  :  Was  a  beautiful  day ;  the  sea  was 
calm.  We  had  two  services  that  day,  one  conducted 
by  an  Episcopalian  on  our  deck,  the  other  was  held 
on  the  lower  deck  with  the  steerage  passengers. 
There  was  good  singing  and  a  good  sermon.  There 
were  over  one  thousand  steerage  passengers,  and 
they  made  a  large  congregation.  We  could  stand  on 
our  deck  and  look  down  on  them  and  hear  very  well, 
and  some  on  our  deck  took  part  in  the  singing. 

Monday,  the  15th:  A  stiff  breeze  was  blowing 
and  black  clouds  were  coming  up  from  the  west. 
It  is  noon  and  the  storm  coming;  we  could  see  the 
lightning  flash  and  hear  the  thunder  roll;  and  the 
storm  came  and  the  rain  poured.  The  wind  was 
blowing  and  the  waves  rolling  high;  our  ship  was 
rocking  and  many  passengers  getting  sick. 

Tuesday,  the  16th :  The  weather  was  clear  and 
we  were  making  good  time.  A  little  infant  eight 
months  old  died  on  Monday,  and  on  Tuesday  she  was 
committed  to  the  waves,  and  the  great  sea  swallowed 
her  up;  the  mother  with  sorrow  and  grief  went  to 
her  room  weeping. 

Wednesday,  August  17th :  And  we  were  nearing 
land;  most  of  the  passengers  were  jolly,  and  all 
seemed  to  be  in  good  humor.  We  could  hear  them 
say  to  one  another,  "It  won't  be  long  until  we  shall 
land  in  God's  country."  We  were  nearing  the  har- 
bor, and  there  were  a  great  many  boats  of  all  kinds 
sailing  in  every  direction.  It  was  a  very  pretty 
sight.  I  landed  and  had  my  baggage  inspected;  it 
was  a  very  tedious  job.  I  went  to  the  Abingdon 
Hotel,  and  at  5:00  o'clock  took  train  for  Centralia, 
Illinois.     Took  a  sleeper,  but  could  not  sleep  much. 


322  Sixty  Years  in  Texas. 

August  18th :  Nothing  of  interest  happened ;  we 
passed  ripe  fields  of  grain,  wheat  and  oats,  and  har- 
vest was  in  full  blast  in  Canada. 

August  19th :  Arrived  at  Centralia  and  it  rained 
all  day.  After  resting  a  day  or  two  at  Centralia  with 
Dr.  Morey  and  wife,  my  daughter,  I  took  the  train 
for  St.  Louis  to  visit  the  Fair  for  a  few  days,  and 
then  took  the  train  for  Dallas,  Texas,  and  arrived  at 
home  safe,  making  the  trip  in  a  little  less  than  three 
months. 


ENGLAND  AND  ROME. 

There  is  one  nation  in  this  universe 
That  has  arisen  to  power  and  fame, 

And  her  patriotic  principles 
Have  immortalized  her  name. 

In  splendor,  pomp  and  power 

The  ancient  kings  did  rule, 
But  oppressed  and  enslaved  the  people 

And  were  heartless,   vain  and  cruel. 

The  eternal  city  on  the  Tiber, 

Where  the  Caesars  ruled  complete, 

And  the  plebeian  and  the  alien 
Stood  trembling  at  their  feet — 

That  city  of  the  seven  hills 

Once  reigned  and  ruled  the  globe, 
But  now  the  imperial  mantle  of  her  mighty  kings 

Is  a  cast  off  tattered  robe. 

She  ruled  for  Rome,  and  Rome  alone, 

And  in  exultant  praise  would  sing, 
While  other  nations  bent  the  knee 

And  paid  tribute  to  the  king. 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  323 

Rome's  matchless  buildings,  gilded  domes, 

And  the  Forum — oh,  alas! 
The  glory  then  of  ancient  Rome 

Now  the  glory  of  the  past. 

The  seeds  of  true  democracy 

Were  by  the  Anglo-Saxons  planted ; 

And  the  first  fruit  was  seen  at  Runneymede, 
And  Magna  Charta  granted. 

In  the  Parliament  of  Briton, 

In  spite  of  lords  or  kings,  it  grew; 

And  the  Baron  and  the  Commoner 
Built  better  than  they  knew. 

It  was  the  dawning  of  the  morning 

When  the  Virgin  Queen  did  reign, 
And  the  British  heart  rejoiced  once  more 

For  the  liberties  obtained. 

In  modern  times  the  British 

With  freedom's  flag  unfurled 
Has  preached  the  Gospel  of  God  and  liberty 

Around  the  heathen  world. 

She  rules  in  Africa  and  Egypt, 

And  on  to  India's  coral  strand, 
And  justice  is  her  watchword 

For  every  race  of  man. 

:;:The  turbid  waters  of  the  narrow  Tiber 

Roll  on  restless  to  the  sea, 
And  Rome  she  ruled  in  narrowness, 

And  no  nation  then  was  free. 


*The  Tiber  where  Rome  is  situated  is  only  300 
feet  wide  and  where  it  enters  into  the  Mediterranean, 
sixteen  miles  distant,  is  only  600  feet  wide. 


324  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

**The  Thames,  unlike  the  Tiber, 

Grows  broad  and  broader  to  the  sea ; 

And  England's  broad  and  righteous  rule 
Will  set  the  nations  free. 

The  measured  step  of  the  British  rank 
That  has  moved  from  place  to  place 

Has  given  Gospel  light  and  liberty 
To  every  heathen  race. 

Will  our  politicians  ne'er  forget, 

And  never  cease  to  crow 
O'er  the  blunders  of  that  old  King  George, 

That  happened  so  long  ago? 

The  white  man  has  a  burden 

That  the  good  and  wise  do  plainly  see, 
And  it  is  to  Christianize  and  educate, 

And  set  the  heathens  free. 


;i:*ihe  Thames  at  London  is  900  feet  wide  from 
bank  to  bank  and  where  it  enters  into  the  sea  it  is  six 
miles  wide. 


First  Pioneers  of  Dallas  County 

Alphabetically  Arranged — Over  1200 

The  first  pioneers  of  Dallas  County  that  came  to 
Texas  before  July,  1848,  and  many  of  the  children 
are  named.  They  are  the  people  that  endured  the 
hardships  and  braved  the  dangers  and  drove  back 
the  Indians  and  converted  this  country  from  a  wild 
wilderness  into  a  garden  spot  and  made  it  possible 
for  those  that  came  later  on  to  enjoy  the  benefits  and 
blessings  of  their  labors.  This  list  is  principally 
taken  from  John  Henry  Brown's  book  by  the  kind- 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  325 

ness  and  permission  of  Misses  Lizzie  and  Marion 
Taylor  Brown,  his  daughters,  and  there  is  no  doubt 
but  many  of  the  old  pioneers  have  died  since  this  list 
was  first  printed  in  1887.  While  the  list  is  alpha- 
betically the  rule  is  departed  from  in  so  far  as  to 
assign  the  post  of  honor  rightfully  and  gratefully 
to: 

Bryan,  John  Neely,  a  Tenneesseean,  last  from  Red 

River,  the  first  settler  of  Dallas  county,  and  a 

single  man,  who  came  about  the  last  of  November, 

1841. 

Allen,  Simon  Bolivar,  merchant  in  1848— did  live 

in  Bonham. 
Atterberry,  James,  and  family. 
Atterberry,  Stephen  C,  and  family. 
Atterberry,  Jesse,  and  family. 
Atterberry,    Nathan     (soldier    in    Mexico)     and 

Churchill  came  single. 
Anderson,  John  L.,  and  family,  came  from  Ken- 
tucky 1846. 
Anderson,  James,  and  family,  1846. 
Anderson,  single,  Thomas  R.  and  James  W. 
Armstrong,  James,  and  family,  came  in  1846;  his 
daughter,  Frances  E.,  came,  the  wife  of  John  Bur- 
sey,  and  is  now  dead;    Martha    married    Robert 
Cook,  dead ;  Nancy  J.  married  first  Wm.  A.  Knight, 
second  W.  Marion  Moon ;  Mary  J.,  married  Alex- 
ander A.  Thomas;  Anderson,  the  only  son,  died 
in  1848. 
Armstrong,  Miss  Cenia. 
Aytes,  John,  and' family  before  1849. 
Archer,  Thomas  M.,  and  family,  1846. 
ASHLOCK,  Josiah,  and  family. 
Andrews,  Ben  F.  and  Samuel,  came  single. 
Alexander,  J.  J.,  came  single. 

Bursey,  John,  and  wife,  nee  Frances  E.  Armstrong, 
came  in  1846. 


326  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

Badgeley,  Daniel  A.,  and  family;  Job  married  Lydia 

Marks. 
Balshmire,  Henry,  married  Eliza  Goodwin. 
Bryan,   James  B.    (brother  of  John   N.)    came  in 

1846;  married  (second  wife)  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Har- 

ter,  nee  Beeman;  children,  William,  James  and 

Lenore. 

Baird,  Geo.  W.,  1849 ;  married  Marry  E.  Traughber. 
Bethurum,  Robert  P.,  married  Electa  A.  Hawpe. 
Bethurum,  Ben  F.,  married  Nancy  P.  Elam. 
Bast,  Abraham,  1848,  m. Myers;  children. 

Morgan,  Jack.  David,  Abraham,  Julia,  Lucinda. 

Eliza. 

Bledsoe,  "A.,"  and  family,  from  Missouri  1846 ;  chi) 
dren,  Willis  A.,  married  Jane  Boyle;  Moses  0.  to 
Sadie  George;  Isaac  C.  to  Miss  Steele;  Virginia  to 
Capt.  R.  A.  Rawlins;  Bettie  to  Thomas  Spruance; 
Fleming  G.  to  Juliet  Samuels. 

Bledsoe,  Anthony,  married  Martha  Huitt. 

Bledsoe,  Dr.  Samuel  T.,  and  family,  1845. 

Bernard,  Charles  H.,  came  from  Illinois,  1847. 

Brown,  Young  E.,  and  family,  1844. 

Brown,  Crawford,  and  family,  1844. 

Brandenburg,  A.,  and  family;  Samuel  came  single. 

Beard,  Allen,  and  family. 

Beverly,  Wm.,  1846,  married  Rebecca  Conover;  died 
in  Collin  1887. 

Bennett,  Hiram,  came  in  1845;  children,  Madison, 
Hardy  and  C.  L. 

Bennett,  Wm.  H.,  and  family,  1845. 

Bennett,  James  M.,  and  family,  1845. 

Bennett,  Elisha  and  Elijah  D.,  came  single. 

Burris,  Thomas,  and  family. 

Browder,  Mrs.  Lucy,  came  in  1845. 

Browder,  Isham,  son  of  Lucy,  and  family,  1845. 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  327 

Browder,  Edward  C,  son  of  Lucy,  1845,  m.  Eliza- 
beth Coats;  his  children,  Pleasant  S.,  Annie  B.  m. 
Edgar  Prickett;  Emma  m.  Dr.  J.  H.  McCorkle; 
Fanny  m.  G.  M.  Overleese. 

Bird,  James  and  family,  from  Missouri  1844. 

Bird,  Samuel  P.,  came  single. 

Bruton,  Wm.,  patriarch,  from  Illinois  1845;  chil- 
dren, Richard  married  Elizabeth  Cox;  James  R. 
married  Nancy  Edwards. 

Britton,  Joseph,  and  family,  1848. 

Baker,  James  M„  married  Ruth  Forester. 

Baker,  Artemas,  came  single. 

Barker,  Joshua,  married  Sarah  Hart. 

Bandy,  Richard  T.,  married  Aurelia  A.  Rawlins. 

Billingsley,  Wm.,  married  Arena  Kirkland. 

Barnes,  Wm.  D.,  married  Tabitha  C.  Smith. 

Barnes,  Wm.,  came  in  1845;  in  Grand  Prairie  fight. 

Burnham,  Horace,  married  Matilda  Cole. 

Burnett,  Wm.  D.,  came  single. 

Brotherton,  Robert  K.,  came  single. 

Brotherton,  H.  K. 

Burford,  Nathaniel  M.,  came  from  Tennessee  in 
1848;  m.  Mary  Knight  in  1854;  their  children — 
Mattie  m.  Wm.  Morris  Freeman  in  1886 ;  Nathan- 
iel is  dead ;  Robert  Lee,  Jeff  Mallard  and  May. 

Barrett,  Roswell  B.,  an  orphan  of  Texas  parentage, 
came  with  James  Armstrong  in  1846;  married 
"Babe"  Baldridge. 

Barrett,  James  W.,  brother  of  Roswell,  still  single. 

Bledsoe,  Allen,  came  in  1845;  in  Grand  Prairie 
fight. 

Buskirk,  Jonas,  and  family. 

Bradshaw,  David,  and  family. 

Beeman,  John,  and  family,  from  Illinois  to  Bowie 
county  1840,  to  Bird's  Fort  November,  1841,  to 
Dallas  county  April,  1842.  His  wife  was  Emily 
Hunnicut.    Their  children — Elizabeth  m  first  Hen- 


328  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

ry  Harter  in  1844,  going  eighty  miles  to  Bonham 
for  that  purpose,  second  James  B.  Bryan,  and 
third  Wm.  Cumby ;  Margaret  m.  John  Neely 
Bryan;  Wm.  H.  m.  Martha  Dye;  Samuel  H.  m. 
Mary  Ann  Weatherford ;  Isaac  H.  died  in  Cali- 
fornia; James  H.  m.  Mary  Hammond;  Clarissa  m. 

Walker ;  Nancy  m.  Wm.  Hobbs ;  Ann  m. 

John  Fugate;  Caroline  m.  Isaac  Fisher — ten  chil- 
dren— nine  married. 

Beeman,  James,  J.,  in  St.  Charles  county,  Missouri, 
in  1836,  married  Sarah  Crawford ;  in  Dallas,  No- 
vember 29,  1851,  he  married  Elizabeth  Baker, 
from  Ohio.  By  the  first  marriage  he  had  children, 
Mary  J.  (died  in  1884)  marired  first  Henry  Price, 
second  Wyatt  Barnett;  Emily  T.  married  Wm.  T. 
Baker;  Francis  M.  married  Amanda  McCormick; 
Melissa  died  in  youth.  By  his  second  wife  J.  J. 
had  Charles  A.,  who  married  Martha  McCormick, 
and  Sarah  E.,  who  married  L.  A.  Sweet. 

Beeman,  Samuel,  married  in  St.  Charles  county, 
Missouri,  Mary  Smelser  (both  now  dead),  and 
'  came  November,  1846,  from  Calhoun  county,  Illi- 
nois. Of  their  children,  John  S.  married  Isabel 
Bryan  in  Illinois — came  with  his  father;  Ruth 
married  Adam  C.  Haught,  whose  first  wife,  Mar- 
garet, was  a  sister  of  her  father;  Nancy  (in  Illi- 
nois) married  Wm.  Hunnicut;  Isaac  married  Han- 
nah Bethurum ;  Temperance  married Moore ; 

Mary  married  Benj.  Lanham;  Peter  married  Ma- 
tilda Riggs ;  William  and  Jacob  were  killed  in  the 
Confederate  army ;  Kate  married  Newton  Husted. 
The  three  brothers  brought  twenty-four  children 
to  Dallas  county,  including  those  born  here. 

Caldwell,  Solomon,  and  family,  from  Illinois  1842. 

Caldwell,  Wm.,  and  family,  from  Illinois. 

Caldwell,  Timothy,  came  single,  married  Nancy 
Ray. 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  329 

CORLEY,  Adelbert,  son  of  the  Rev.  Sam.  Corley,  the 
Mexican  war  soldier,  came  in  1848;  for  thirty 
years  has  been  clerk  of  Red  River  county. 

Cole,  John  P.,  and  family,  moved  to  Tarrant. 
Corcoran,  John  T.,  and  family,  1845. 

Crabtree,  William,  and  family. 

Crutchfield,  Thomas  F.,  and  family,  from  Ken- 
tucky 1845;  children,  James  O.  m.  Fanny  Floyd; 
Albertus  went  to  California ;  Th.  Ella  m.  G.  S.  C. 
Leonard ;  Ophelia  m.  John  J.  Eakins,  who  died  in 
1886;  Minerva  m.  John  W.  Swindells;  Betty  m. 
John  W.  Lane. 

Cousy,  Mrs.  Nancy,  and  family. 

Cousy,  Thomas  W.,  came  single. 

Casey,  John,  and  family. 

Casey,  Harvey,  came  single. 

Casey,  Harry,  came  single. 

Cornelius,  Abner  P.,  and  family. 

Crumpacker,,  Darnel  and  Joel,  came  single. 

Cheshire,  Thomas  and  family. 

Cook,  John  C,  married  Elvira  Mays. 

Carver,  Solomon,  and  family. 

Carver,  Abraham,  and  family. 

Carver,  Daniel,  came  single. 

Chenoweth,  James  F.,  and  family. 

Chenoweth,  Thomas,  married  Hannah  Keenan. 

Clark,  A.  J.  (old  Texian)  came  in  1845— in  Grand 
Prairie  fight,  married  Sarah  Myers ;  their  son,  H. 
C,  in  Dallas. 

Clark,  Henry,  and  family. 

Clark,  Wm.,  came  in  1845 — his  family  came  with 
Judge  Patterson  in  January,  1846. 

Cates,  James,  came  in  1844;  in  Grand  Prairie  fight; 
married  Elvira  Fay. 

Campbell,  Thomas  J.,  came  single. 

Chapman,  John  C,  and  family. 

Chapman,  Robert,  came  single. 


330  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

Castor,  Jacob,  came  single. 

Carlock,  Jacob  G.,  came  single. 

Coats,  Samuel,  and  family,  from  Illinois  1845. 

Coats,  Thomas  D.,  and  family,  from  Illinois  1845. 

Coats,  Marion  A.,  and  Wm.  B.  came  single. 

Cox,  John  H.,  and  wife,  from  Illinois  1842. 

Cox,  George,  from  Illinois  1842. 

Cox,  James,  from  Illinois  1844. 

Cox,  Davis  B.,  from  Illinois  1844. 

Cox,  Hartwell  B.,  from  Illinois  1844. 

Cox,  Joseph,  married  Narcissa  Elam. 

Cox,  William,  married  Mary  Dike. 

Conover,  Dr.  W.  W.,  came  1845. 

Campbell,  Thomas  A.,  married  Margaret  A. 

Coombes. 
Carr,  Wm.,  and  family. 
Carr,  Henry,  came  single. 
Connor,  Wm.  D.,  married  Mary  Fikes. 
Carpenter,  Timothy,  and  family  came  in  1843. 
Crowley,  Richard,  married  Almeda  Leake. 
Crowley,  Benj.  F.,  married  Edna  Leake. 
Calder,  Dr.  ,  came  in  1842,  killed  by  Indians 

in  Collin  February,  1843  (see  narrative.) 
Coombes,  Wm.,  and  family,  from  Kentucky  1843: 

children — Leven  G.  m.  Jane  H.  Heady;  Zachariah 

Ellis  m.  Rebecca  F.  Bedford;  Isaac  N.  m.  Berrilla 

K.  Myers ;  Margaret  A.  m.  Thos.  A.  Campbell  and 

died  in  Missouri  in  1869;  Mary  M.  m.  Levi  M. 

Bumpas ;  Rebecca  F.  m.  Wm.  L.  Holt  and  is  dead. 

Children  by  a  second  wife,  Samuel  H.,  John  W. 

and  three  daughters. 
Combs,  Joseph,  and  family  (Cedar  Hill)  came  before 

July,  1848;  of  his  children  Zur  m.  Sarah  Evans; 

Wm.  S.  m.  Elizabeth  J.  Evans;  Robert. 
Chowning,  Robert,  came  in  1845. 
Chowning,  J.  W.  m.  Nancy  Myers  in  Illinois — in 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  331 

Grand  Prairie  fight  in  1846;  found  the  murdered 
Phelps  party  in  1848. 

Couch,  Henderson,  as  foreman  of  the  jury  at  the 
first  court  ever  held  in  Dallas  county,  December, 
1846,  he  and  his  eleven  colleagues  divorced  Mrs. 
Charlotte  M.  Dalton  from  her  husband,  Joseph 
Dalton ;  and  before  the  sun  of  that  day  glided  to 
the  "Heathen  Chinee"  side  of  the  globe,  the  said 
Henderson  Couch  and  Charlotte  M.  Dalton,  legal- 
ly and  constitutionally,  were  husband  and  wife. 
It  was  the  first  civil  suit — Dalton  vs.  Dalton — ever 
tried  in  Dallas  county;  yet  some  people  of  this 
day  imagine  that  the  "Early  Timers"  of  Dallas 
were  of  the  backwoods,  "Arkansaw  Traveller," 
non-progressive  class,  such  as  are  found  stuck 
away  in  certain  spots  in  New  York,  New  Jersey, 
Pennsylvania,  and  possibly  a  few  in  North  Caro- 
lina and  Virginia,  but  never  in  the  prairies  of  the 
Great  West  or  Southwest.  Let  all  such  realize 
the  electric  dispatch  of  business  in  early  Dallas 
days,  and  be  convinced  of  their  former  erroneous 
impressions — then  tip  their  beavers  to  the  mem- 
ory of  Henderson  and  Charlotte  Couch. 

Chenault,  Wesley  M.,  and  family  came  in  1845. 

Chenault,  William,  came  single,  a  soldier  in  Mex- 
ico, married  Ruth  Ann  Jackson,  died  in  1886. 

Cameron,  David  R.,  and  family,  from  Missouri  in 
1844;  among  his  children  were  Chris  C,  L.  Frank 
and  T.  H. 

Cockrell,  Wesley,  and  family  came  in  1846. 

Cook,  Henry,  and  family,  before  1849. 

Cole,  Dr.  John,  wife  and  mostly  grown  children 
came  from  Arkansas  1843 ;  their  children,  Calvin 
G.,  married  in  Arkansas  Elvira  Reeder;  James  M., 
m.  Sarah  Bennett ;  John  H.  m.  Elizabeth  Preston ; 
Martin  V.,  m.  Maggie  Preston ;  Joseph,  m.  Jennie 
Overton;  Malinda,  m.  (second  wife  of)  James  N. 


332  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

Smith;  Eliza,  m.  Jefferson  Tilley;  Louisa,  m.  A. 
G.  Walker,  and  is  dead ;  Wm.  did  live  in  Medina 
county,  m.  Mary  Bennett. 

Cook,  Williford  W.,  brother  of  Robert  M.,  came  in 
1845. 

Cook,  Robert  M.,  surveyor,  came  in  1845;  m.  Martha 
Armstrong;  both  dead. 

Conner,  Abraham,  and  family,  came  before  1846. 

Crockett,  John  M.,  and  wife  came  from  Tennessee 
October,  1847 ;  are  now  dead. 

Collins,  James,  and  wife  Nancy  came  in  1846. 

Collins,  Thomas,  brother  of  James  and  wife  Mary, 
came  in  1846. 

Carter,  Wormley,  born  in  Loudon  county,  Virginia, 
June  19,  1816;  removed  from  Kentucky  to  Mis- 
souri 1843 ;  to  Dallas  in  May,  1846 ;  married  Lucy 
Anderson ;  since  1880  has  lived  near  Lewisville, 
Denton  county;  is  dead. 

Carter,  Asher  W.,  brother  of  Wormley,  married 
Eliabeth  A.  Wood ;  is  now  dead. 

Cockrell,  Alexander,  came  from  Missouri  in  1845 ; 
was  a  frontier  soldier  and  partly  in  Mexico ;  mar- 
ried Sarah  H.  Horton;  was  killed  in  Dallas  April 
3,  1858.  His  widow  now  dead.  Frank  Cockrell 
lives  in  St.  Louis ;  Alexander  married  Ettie  Fulk- 
erson,  and  lives  in  Dallas. 

Crow,  Wm.  M.,  and  family  came  in  1847. 

Carder,  Wm.  P.,  and  family  came  in  1845;  his  sons, 
Elijah  and  Christopher,  were  soldiers  in  Mexico, 
and  died  in  the  city  about  Christmas,  1847.  His 
wife,  nee  Brumfield,  was  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Anion 
McCommas. 

Dooley,  George  W.,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Durrett,  George  W.,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Daniel,  John  H.,  came  from  Missouri  in  1845 — a 
soldier  in  the  Mexican  war — married  Rebecca  Ray 
in  Dallas  county.    Their  children,  William  R.  mar- 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  333 

ried  Josephine  McCommas;  Mary  Frances  mar- 
ried George  H.  Alexander;  "John  Henry"  died 
March  5,  1885;  Benj.  F. ;  Sterling  Price;  Edmund 
W.  married  first  Emma  McCommas,  second  Ettie 
Wilkinson;  Charles  A.,  Martha  J.,  and  the  last  is 
"Arthur  Ellis  Coombes  Daniel." 

Dykes,  Thomas,  came  single  in  1845;  a  soldier  in 
Mexico,  and  died  in  New  Orleans  en  route  home. 

DURGIN,  Charles  H.,  merchant,  came  from  Massa- 
chusetts 1845 ;  married  Elizabeth  B.  Thomas,  and 
is  long  deceased. 

Dakan,  Dr.  Perry,  married  Ann  R.  Walker,  who 
died  in  California.  He  returned,  and  died  in 
Texas. 

Dye,  Benjamin,  Sr.,  and  family,  came  from  Ken- 
tucky in  1847.  His  children — Enoch,  now  dead, 
married  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Abner  Keen;  Benj., 
Jr.,  and  Wm.  H.,  died  single;  Joseph  F.  went  to 
California  in  1853 ;  George  lives  in  Dallas  county ; 
Martha  E.  is  the  wife  of  Wm.  H.  Beenman ;  Sarah 

first  married Vassella  and  is  now  the  wife 

of  Dr. Mitchell ;  Miranda  married  Madison 

Bennett ;  Addie  is  the  wife  of  Wm.  A.  McDermett. 

Dye,  William,  brother  of  Benj.,  died  single. 

Dawdy,  Alanson,  married  Rebecca  Shelton. 

Downing,  Wm.  W.,  came  single. 

Dunaway,  Foster  W.,  came  single. 

Dixon,  Solomon  W.,  and  family. 

Demay  (or  Dernay)  Charles,  came  in  1845 — in 
Grand  Prairie  fight. 

Davis,  Hinson  C,  and  family. 

Davis,  John  W.,  Benj.,  F.  and  Jeremiah  came  sin- 
gle. 

Ellis,  Thomas  M.,  and  wife,  nee  Witt,  came  from 
Illinois  in  1845.     One  of  their  daughters  married 

Middleton  Perry,  Mary  married  Jones  Green, 

married  W.  L.  White,  Wm.  F.  married  Miss  Smith, 


334  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

John  T.  married  Miss  Stewart,  James  H.  married 
Mary  E.  Rawlins. 

Elam,  Wm.  B.,  wife  Mary  and  family  from  Illinois 
1845. 

Elam,  Isaac,  wife  Margaret  and  family,  1847. 

Elam,  W.  M.,  and  family. 

Elam,  Jesse,  and  family. 

Elam,  Andrew,  Benton  and  several  others,  came  sin- 
gle. 

Elliott,  Sanders,  came  in  1845. 

Elkins,  Smith,  elected  chief  justice  in  1850,  and  quit 
the  country  under  a  domestic  cloud. 

Edwards,  Isaac,  and  family. 

Ferris,  Morris,  and  family  came  before  1846. 

Floyd,  George,  and  family. 

Fyke,  Elisha,  and  family. 

Fyke,  Archer,  came  single. 

Fortner,  Milford  F.,  and  family. 

Frost,  Benj.,  and  family. 

Frost,  Thomas,  came  single. 

Ferris,  Warren  A.,  surveyor,  and  family  came  from 
Nacogdoches  in  1846. 

Fleming,  Wm.,  and  family  came  in  1846. 

Fleming,  Geo.  W.,  came  single  in  1846;  married 
Louisa  Jane  Britton. 

Franklin,  Levi,  married  Nancy  Rogers. 

Fletcher,  ,  married  Miss  Henry. 

Fortner,  John,  and  family,  came  in  1844;  now  lives 
at  Vinita,  Indian  Territory;  his  children — Amos, 
Mary  J.  married  George  Burgoon;  Caroline  mar- 
ried George  Nash. 

Freeman,  Mrs.  Mary  Amy  and  family  came  in  1846. 

Freeman,  Wm.  S.,  and  wife  Susan  came  in  1846. 

Fondren,  John  R.,  came  in  1846. 

Glover,  George  W.,  and  family  came  in  1843. 

Goodwin,  Micajah,  and  family  came  before  1846. 

Goodwin,  Thos.  R.,  came  single. 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  335 

Galloway,  D.  R.  S.  C  married  Jane  Manning. 

Gracey,  Marquis  D.  L.,  came  in  1846 ;  married 
Amanda  E.  Harris. 

Gracey,  Emory  A.,  married  Miss  Matlock. 

Gracey,  Grundy  C.,  Sabine  and  Wm.  T.,;  Amanda 
married  Goodnight. 

Gill,  Eldridge,  came  in  1849 ;  married  Mrs.  Lucinda 
McDonald,  nee  Smith. 

Gunnels,  Washington,  married  Polly  Sparks. 

Greathouse,  Archibald,  and  family  came  in  1844. 

Garkins,  George,  and  wife  Easter  came  in  1847. 

Gilbert,  Mabel,  and  wife  Martha,  came  from  Bird's 
Fort,  in  March,  1842,  Mrs.  Gilbert  being  the  first 
white  lady  to  reach  Dallas,  though  followed  on 
the  4th  of  April  by  Mrs.  John  Beeman,  yet  living, 
and  her  daughters.  Mr.  Gilbert  had  formerly  been 
a  steamboat  commander. 

Griffin,  Elder  Thacker  Vivian,  a  preacher  of  the 
"Christian"  church,  born  1800 — came  to  Dallas  in 
1846 ;  organized  the  first  church  of  his  denomina- 
tion in  Dallas  county  at  Hord's  Ridge,  and  died 
in  1852  or  '53.  His  only  son  died  in  the  Confed- 
erate army.  His  only  daughter,  Elizabeth  A.,  is 
the  [to  this  writer  and  his  family  especially]., 
esteemed  wife  of  Dr.  Albert  A.  Johnston. 

Gray,  Andrew  K.  and  Daniel  H.,  came  single. 

Green,  Jones,  came  in  1845 ;  his  wife  was  Mary  Ellis. 

Graham,  Joseph,  and  family. 
Graham,  Milton  H.,  came  single. 
GOAR,  John,  and  family ;  his  daughter  Matilda  mar- 
ried Norvell  R.  Winniford. 
Grounds,  Robert,  and  large  family,  came  in  1845. 
Green,  Mrs.  Martha  P.,  and  family. 
Garvin,  Thomas,  came  single. 

Howell,  John  and  wife  Parthena  came  in  1845 ;  their 
children — Virginius,  James,  Hartwell  (lost  in  the 
Confederate  army),  Lizzie   (Mrs.  John  Wright), 


336  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

Salome  (Mrs.  John  M.  Hervay),  Charles,  married 
Miss  Thomas. 

Hicklin,  Wm.  J.,  and  family  came  in  1845.  He  was 
killed  out  West. 

Horton,  Enoch,  Sr.,  and  family,  from  Russell  coun- 
ty, Virginia,  arrived  November  29,  1844. 

Hord,  Wm.  H.,  and  wife  Mary  J.  (nee  Crockett) 
came  from  North  Carolina  1845;  their  children, 
Thomas  A.,  Ferdinand  P.,  Mattie  J.  (Mrs.  J.  A. 
Crawford). 

Hunt,  Edward  W.,  came  in  1846 ;  first  married  Jane 
A.  Thomas,  second  Olivia  H.  Winn. 

Hunt,  John  L.,  brother  of  E.  W.,  came  in  1846,  went 
to  California  in  1849. 

Henry,  J.  Paul,  Sr.,  married  Miss  Fletcher. 

Hambrick,  N.  M.,  and  wife  came  in  1847. 

Hobbs,  Wm.  W.,  came  in  1842,  married  Nancy  Bee- 
man. 

Huitt,  John,  and  family  came  in  1843. 

Huitt,  Roland,  brother  of  John,  came  in  1843. 

Hibert,  J.  B.,  came  in  1845. 

Hetherington,  John  C,  came  in  1846;  married 
Susan  A.  Drake. 

Hart,  Abe,  came  in  1847;  married  Elizabeth  Ray. 

Hill,  Mrs.  S.  J.,  came  in  1845. 

Houx,  Nicholas,  and  family  came  in  1848. 

Houx,  James  M.,  and  family. 

Harter,  Henry,  married  Elizabeth  Beeman. 

Harwood,  Alex.  M.,  and  family,  Tennesseeans,  but 

last  from  Missouri,  in  1844.    The  parents  died  at 

Harwood  Springs,  as  did  their  son,  N.  B.,  and  his 

wife,  the  parents  of  Wm.  A.  Harwood,  formerly 

district  clerk,  now  of  Dimmitt  county. 

Harwood,  Alexander,  (so  long  county  clerk),  who 
married  Sarah  Peak.  He  died  July  31,  1885.  Their 
Son,  Ripley  B.,  married  Lucy  Keller,  and  has  a  son 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  337 

named  Alexander.  Their  daughter,  Juliet,  is  the 
wife  of  James  J.  Collins. 

Henderson,  John,  married  Malvina  Kimbell. 

Hickman,  Henry,  married  Elizabeth  Newton. 

Hanby,  J.,  married  Susan  Smith. 

Hutton,  V.  J.,  and  wife  came  in  1845  or  '46. 

Husted,  Harrison,  and  family  came  in  1845. 

Husted,  James  G.,  N.  J.,  S.  F.  and  others  came  sin- 
gle. 

Hargroeder,  Mrs.  Mary,  and  family,  before  July, 
1848. 

Hobbs,  James,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 

Hobbs,  Wm.  W.,  married  Nancy  Beeman. 

Hart,  Jacob,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 

Hanna,  Amariah  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 

Harding,  John  M.,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 

Hughes,  William,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 

Halford,  Jeremiah,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Halford,  J.  W.,  came  single. 

Henderson,  Noah,  and  family. 

Hunnicut,  Wm.  C,  and  family,  1844. 

Hall,  Jacob  C,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Hall,  John,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Hollow  ay,  Joseph  H.,  before  1848. 

Hall,  Henry  H.,  came  single,  married Ander- 
son. 

Harris,  John,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Harris,  William,  came  before  1848. 

Harris,  Daniel,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Haught,  Adam  C,  from  Illinois  in  1845;  married 
first  Margaret  Beeman,  second  Ruth  Beeman. 

Haught,  Peter,  came  in  1845;  a  soldier  in  Mexico; 
married  S.  J.  Pruitt. 

Haught,  Samuel  A.,  came  in  1845 ;  a  soldier  in  Mex- 
ico, and  raised  a  large  family. 

Jenkins,  William,  wife  and  children  came  from  Mis- 
souri in  1845 — died  in  1872;  their  children,  Mary 


338  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

A.  married  first  James  Collins,  second  A.  M.  Coch- 
ran; Lizzie  married  Eugene  Lively;  Hannah  E. 
married  Coany;  Miron  E.  married  Celeste  Brown; 
Sarah  married  Chas.  Fladger;  Rufus  Henry  and 
Willis  L. 

Jackson,  John,  wife  and  children  came  from  Mis- 
souri in  1846;  their  children  were  Andrew  Sloan 
Jackson,  a  soldier  in  Mexico,  married  Elizabeth 
Dye ;  William  was  a  soldier  in  Mexico,  came  home 
sick  and  died  September  12,  1848 ;  James  E.  mar- 
ried Diana  Davis;  Good  married  Miss  Thomas; 
George  married  Molly  Nash;  Ruth  Ann  married 
Wm.  Chenault. 

Kuhn,  Anton,  came  in  1845  or  '46 — the  first  black- 
smith in  the  town  of  Dallas. 

Keifer,  Benj.,  came  single. 

Keller,  Samuel,  and  family  came  before  July,  1848. 

Kimmfll,  Mrs.  Catharine,  and  family  came  before 
July,  1848. 

Kimmell,  Philip,  and  family  came  before  July,  1848. 

Kirk,  John  W.,  came  single,  before  July,  1848. 

Kennedy,  Mrs.  Mary,  and  family  came  before  July, 
1848. 

Keen,  Wm.  H.,  and  family  came  before  July,  1848. 

Keen,  W.  W.,  and  family  came  before  July,  1848. 

Keen,  John  S.,  married  Olive  S.  Merrill. 

Keen,  John  W.,  married  Nancy  Turner. 

Kenison,  Daniel  W.,  came  single,  married  Mary 
Horn. 

Larner,  Wm.,  married  Mary  Jennings  in  Illinois — 
came  in  1842 — raised  a  large  family;  both  dead 
and  children  scattered. 

Leonard,  George  L.,  and  family  came  from  Tennes- 
see in  1843.  (A  portion  of  this  family  spell  the 
name  Lenard.)  His  children  were  George  S.  C. 
married  Thomas  Ella  Crutchfield,  and  both  dead; 
Wm.    M.,   John   R.,   Jackson   L.,   married   Mittie 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  339 

Hearne,  and  both  dead ;  Samuel  F.,  married  Mattie 
Miller  and  is  dead ;  Washington  C. ;  Elizabeth,  mar- 
ried John  W.  Wright;  Mattie,  and  Joseph  A.,  mar- 
ried Annie  Jeffries. 

Long,  Henry  C,  came  single,  married 

Lavender,  Mrs.  M.  H.,  and  family,  from  Illinois 
1845. 

Lavender,  J.  J.,  and  wife  Lucy  A.,  came  in  1846. 

Laughlin,  J.  Y.,  and  wife  Abby  C.  came  in  1849. 

Laughlin,  J.  P.,  and  wife  came  in  1849. 

Ledbetter,  Oliver  V.,  and  wife  Margaret  came  in 
1848. 

Ledbetter,  W.  H.,  came  in  1846. 

Ledbetter,  Rev.  Arthur,  married  Elizabeth  Pear- 
son. 

Lanier,  John,  and  family  came  before  1846. 

Lanier,  Archibald,  son  of  John,  married  Lucy  Hor- 
ton;  Lucy  married  Enoch  Horton. 

Lee,  J.  B.,  and  family  came  before  1848;  his  chil- 
dren were  William,  Thomas,  Lee  and  three  daugh- 
ters. 

Lawrence,  John  P.,  married  Fanny  Coats. 

Lynch,  John,  Married  Mahala  Warner. 

Latimer,  James  W.,  founder  of  the  Dallas  Herald 
in  1849,  came  from  Red  River  county  in  that  year 
and  died  in  1859.  He  was  a  good  writer — left  a 
widow  and  several  children,  all  or  nearly  all  of 
whom  are  now  dead.  His  parents  came  from 
Tennessee  to  Red  River  in  1834.  His  death  was 
deplored  as  a  loss  to  Dallas. 

Loving,  James,  and  family  came  before  July,  1848. 

Loving,  Samuel  P.,  came  single. 

Leake,  Anthony  M.,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 

Lacey,  Philemon,  came  single  before  July,  1848. 

Linney,  Parry,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 

Longley,  Thomas,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 


340  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

the  m'commas  family. 

Elder  Amon  McCommas,  with  his  wife,  nee  Mary 
Brumfield,  and  children,  came  from  Missouri  in 
1844.  He  hailed  from  Virginia,  stopping  for  re- 
pairs, successively,  in  Kentucky,  Ohio,  Illinois  and 
Missouri.  Of  his  children,  James  B.  married  Miss 
Shields  before  coming;  John  (a  soldier  in  the 
Mexican  war)  married  in  Dallas  county  Missouri 
Tucker;  Elisha  married  Rhcda  Ann  Tucker;  Wil- 
liam M.  married  Julia  Tucker;  Amon,  Jr.,  mar- 
ried Nancy  Seals;  Stephen  B.  died  a  soldier  in 
the  City  of  Mexico,  December  24,  1847 ;  Rosa  mar- 
ried Jesse  Cox;  Armilda  married  Benj.  F.  Flea- 
man;  Mary  E.  married  John  W.  Herndon. 

McCommas,  Stephen  B.,  Sr.,  brother  of  Amon,  came 
with  his  family.  His  son,  Burke,  died  a  soldier 
in  the  City  of  Mexico,  about  Christmas,  1847.  Of 
his  other  children,  Serena  married  Rufus  Bennett, 
and  of  John  I  have  no  data. 

McCommas,  John  C,  brother  of  Amon  and  Stephen, 
came  with  them  married — was  a  soldier  in  Mexico, 
and  did  live  in  Young  county. 

McCommas,  Mrs.  Lavinia,  a  sister-in-law  of  the  three 
brothers,  with  her  family,  came  with  them. 

Moore,  Benj.  S.,  came  single — married  Martha 
Weatherford. 

Myers,  William,  and  family  came  in  1843;  his  son 
Meredith  married  Miss  Eddy. 

Mounts,  Jesse  V.,  and  family,  came  in  1844:  he 
commanded  in  the  Grand  Prairie  skirmish  in  1846. 

Mounts,  Thomas  A.,  married  Eliza  J.  Harmison. 

Mounts,  George,  died  a  soldier  in  the  City  of  Mex- 
ico, December,  1847. 

Mounts,  J.  H. 

Minter,  Rev.  Green,  came  before  1846. 

McCants,  Joshua,  and  family  came  before  July, 
1845 — in  Grand  Prairie  fight. 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  341 

McDermett,  J.  B.,  came  from  Arkansas  in  1847, 
his  sister  Lucy  being  of  his  family.     Of  his  chil- 
dren, Mary  M.  married  Joseph  Parker;  William 
A.  married  Addie  Dye;  Henrietta  married  John 
Tenison;  Cora  M.  married  John  C.  McCoy;  Dr. 
David  Porter  married  Talitha  Smith,  did  live  in 
Pilot  Grove ;  Sam  died  in  New  Mexico ;  Josephine 
A.   married   Ulysses   Matthews;   Edward   J.   was 
killed  in  the  naval  battle  of  Mobile. 
Moon,  Jesse  and  wife  Mary  J.  came  from  Missouri 
in  1845;  of  their  children,  E.  G.  died  at  fifteen; 
Jesse  in   1872;   Julia  married  Ellis  C.   Thomas; 
Martha  married  Matt.  J.  Moore;  Nancy  E.  mar- 
ried  Joseph   C.   McConnell;   W.   Marion  married 
Mrs.  Mary  J.  Knight,  nee  Armstrong;  Sarah  J. 
Miller,  Madison  M.,  long  a  merchant  at  Pleasant 
Run,  near  Lancaster,  came  in  1846 ;  he  first  mar- 
ried Mary  Rawlins,  second  Emma  A.  Dewey. 
Miller,  William  B.,  wife  and  children  came  from 
Kentucky  in  1847.    By  his  first  wife  he  had  chil- 
dren, Charilaus  (Grill),  who  married  Miss  Walk- 
er; Alonzo;  Mattie  married  S.   Frank  Leonard; 
Molly  married  George  W.  Guess;  Jennie  married 
Chas.  D.  Kanady;  Susan  married  Frank  Robber- 
son   (who  died  in  1867),  and  is  now  the  wife  of 
Dr.  Jacob  B.  Ewing,  of  Dallas.     By  his  present 
wife,  Emma  A.   (formerly  widow  of  Madison  M. 
Miller,  of  Lancaster,  and  nee  Emma  A.  Dewey), 
he  has  Minnie,  wife  of  Philip  B.  Miller,  Charles 
and  Richard. 
Miller,  James  T.,  came  single,  a  blacksmith ;  went 

to  California. 
Miller,  Stephen  H.,  came  single  before  July,  1848. 
Mathews,  Ulysses,  married  Josephine  A.   McDer- 
mett. 
Moorman,  John  H.,  married  Susan  Hickman. 


342  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

Markham,   George,   a   soldier   in   Mexico,   married 

Hannah  Cox. 
Moneyham,  James  J.,   and  family  came  in   1843; 

moved  to  Tarrant  county,    and    finally    left    the 

State. 
Moneyham,  Joseph  William,  and   family   came   in 

1843;  his  son  married  and  died  at  Letot;  a  daugh- 
ter married Taylor. 

Morris,  Wm.,  and  family  came  in  1844 — his  chil- 
dren, James  M.,  Samuel,  L.  D.  and  Preston  W. 

died  single — Melissa  married  Snyder  Kennedy. 
Mooney,   James,  came  in   1845 — in  Grand  Prairie 

fight. 
Mitchell,  John,  came  in  1845 — in  Grand  Prairie 

fight. 
Mathis,  James,  came  in  1845 — in    Grand    Prairie 

fight. 
McCarny,  Perry,and  family  came  in  1846. 
Masters,  Wm.,  and  family  came  in  1846. 
Morris,  Richard,  young  Englishman,  came  in  1848 

— died. 
McCrackin,  Anson,  and  family  came  in  1845. 
May  William  C.,  and  family. 
Merrill,  Adolph  G.  M.,  came  single. 
Merrill,  David,  and  family  came  in  1844;  among 

his  children  were  Benjamin,  Robert,  Samuel  and 

Eli. 

CHILDREN  OF  ELDER  JOHN   M.   MYERS. 

Eliabeth  married  J.  S.  Bailey ;  Mary  married  Wil- 
liam Mosely;  Martha  married  J.  J.  Stubbs;  J.  S. 
married  M.  V.  Cooper;  Douglas  married  Eugenia 
Hoffman ;  G.  F.  married  Ella  Kennedy ;  Letty  mar- 
ried James  McWhorter;  Nancy  married  W.  T. 
McKamy;  Lewis  married  Miss  Myers. 

Merrill,  Elder  Eli,  and  wife,  Mary  came  in  1844; 
of  their  children,  Julia  married  John  W.  Wright; 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  343 

Cornelius  married  Margaret  Dickinson;  John  M. 

married  Sue  Whitman;  Thomas  was  murdered  at 

Van  Horn's  Wells,  near  the  Rio  Grande ;  and  Geo. 

C.  Merrill. 
Merrill,  Charles  D.,  and  family. 
McCombs,  Joshua,  came  single. 
McDowell,  John,  came  single  before  July,  1848. 
Munden,  Joseph,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 
Metcalf,   John  J.,   and   family  came  before   July, 

1848 — a  surveyor,  and  died  in  Palo  Pinto  county. 
Moore,  James,  came  before  July,  1848. 
Moore,  Jesse  and  John  T.,  came  single  before  July, 

1848. 
Marks,  Watts,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 
Morse,  Frederick,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 
Manning,.  Mrs.  Delilah,  and    family,    before  July, 

1848. 
Manning,  Thomas  G.,  came  single  before  July,  1848. 
Manning,  Andrew  J.,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 
Mills,  Edward,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 
Mills,  James,  came  single  before  July,  1848. 
Mills,  John,  came  single  before  July,  1848. 
McDaniel,  Aaron,  came  single  before  July,  1848. 
Newby,  James,  came  single,  married  Mary  Keenan. 
Neely,  Charles,  came  single  before  July,  1848. 
Nix,  John,  came  in   1846;  his  children,   Margaret 

married  Malone;  D.  H.  to  Mary  Myers; 

Francis  M.  to  Caroline  Drake;  Louisa  to  Lewis 

Cook;  Sarah  to  W.  J.  Anderson;  Daniel  to  Mary 

Fyke. 
Newton,  Harvey  H.,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 
Newton,  Charles  G.,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 
Newton,  Samuel  G.,  came  at  the  same  time — died 

in  San  Antonio. 
Narboe,  three  Norwegian  brothers,  came  in  1845 — 

John  P.  and  wife  died ;  Peter  married  Jane  Robin- 


344  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

son.  Peter,  Paul  and  John,  single,  went  to  Cali- 
fornia about  1850  or  '51. 

Noble,  John,  came  in  1845 ;  in  Grand  Prairie  fight. 

Nanny,  Andrew  T.,  came  single  in  1847,  married 
Susan  Ray;  his  children,  Benj.,  Amos,  Levy,  Re- 
becca, and  perhaps  others. 

Norton,  Daniel  E.,  came  single,  married  Margaret 
E.  Strong. 

Nations,  John  W.,  came  single,  married  Darcus 
Baugh. 

Overton,  Aaron,  and  family  came  in  1844 

Overton,  Caswell,  and  family  came  in  1844. 

Overton,  John  M.,  and  family  came  in  1844. 

Overton,  Wm.  P.,  and  John  C.  came  single  in  1844. 

O'GuiNN,  Wm.,  and  family  came  before  July,  1848. 

O'Guinn,  Stephen  C.  and  Leonidas,,  came  single. 

Patrick,  Callaway  H.  and  wife,  came  to* the  county 
in  1846.  He  had  been  in  it  in  1841  with  an  Indian 
scout.  He  married  Rhoda  I.,  daughter  of  Abra- 
ham T.  Smith,  killed  by  Indians  in  Young  county, 
1841. 

Phelps,  Josiah  Smith,  came  in  1845,  and  was  a  sur- 
veyor; in  March,  1846,  at  Harwood  Springs  (Kle- 
burg),  this  still  being  Nacogdoches  county,  he 
married  Mrs.  Melissa  T.  Jacobs,  daughter  of  Alex. 
M.  Harwood,  Sr. ;  she  died  about  January,  1848, 
leaving  an  only  infant  child,  "Dickey,"  now  Mrs. 
Henry  C.  Miller,  Azle  P.  O.,  Tarrant  county.  Mr. 
Phelps  was  killed  by  Indians  April  9,  1848. 

Pancoast,  Josiah,  a  soldier  in  the  Grand  Prairie 
fight  and  in  Mexico,  married  Mary  Ann  Young; 
moved  to  San  Antonio,  reared  seven  daughters, 
and  died  there.  He  was  a  brother  of  the  celebrat- 
ed medical  author,  Dr.  Pancoast,  of  Philadelphia. 

Pearson,  Wm.  H.,  and  family  came  in  1844. 

Pearson,  Dudley  F.,  a  soldier  in  Mexico. 

Popplewell,  Simcoe,  single. 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  345 

Pulliam,  Wm.  H.,  and  family  came  in  1845. 
Pulliam,  Marshall  S.,  single,  came  in  1845. 
Pulliam,  John  L.,  single,  came  in  1845— soldier  m 

Mexico. 
Pruitt,  William,  and  family. 
Pruitt,  Martin,  single. 
Parks,  Elias  C,  came  in  1845. 
Pruitt,  Wm.  A.,  married  Elizabeth  Freeman. 
Prigmore,  Joseph,  and  family  came  in  1845. 
Prigmore,  Benjamin  J.,  came  single  in  1845,  soldier 
in  Mexico  in  his  nineteenth  year,  married  Lucy 
Jackson,  and  lives  near  Richardson. 
Parks,  Alfred  J.,  married  Lydia  A.  Rawlins. 
Parker,  Joseph,  came  from  Shelby  county,  Texas, 
1848,  married  Mary  McDermett  and  died  in  1878. 
Their  children  are  Theodore ;  Clementine,  wife  of 

Robert  P.  Toole,  and  Cora  J.  (Mittie)  is  Mrs. 

Littlefield. 
Perry,  Mrs.  Sarah,  and  family  came  1844  or  '45. 
Perry,  Alexander  W.,  and  wife,  nee  Sarah  Hoffman, 
came  from  Illinois  in  1844;  their  children,  Mar- 
garet married    J.    M.    Smith;    Harriet    married 
Thomas  Warner ;  J.  H.  married  Susan  Poor ;  W.  F. 
married  Amanda    Cox;    Carrie    married    Clinton 
Hoffman;  Lillie  Dale  married  W.  D.  Fyke;  Rosey 
Ann  married  N.  N.  Butler. 
Perry,  Weston,  and  family  came  in  1846;  his  chil- 
dren, Nancy  was  married  to  Page  Blackwell,  F.  S. 
to  Miss  McCants,  W.  M.  to  Miss  Blackwell,  Re- 
becca to  David  Marsh,  Caroline  to  John  Jackson, 
Sarah  to  Wm.  Rowe,  Elizabeth  to  James  Cox,  Ellen 
to  J.  F.  Fouts,  Ann  to  Wm.  Kennedy,  Eveline  to 
Preston  Buchanan— Theodore,    Commodore    and 
John  are  dead— thirteen  children  and  ten  mar- 
ried.     F.  S.,  Caroline,  Ellen,  Rebecca,  Sarah  and 
Eveline  are  dead. 
Perry,  Middleton,  came  in  1845,  married  in  Illinois 


346  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

a  daughter  of  Thomas  M.  Ellis — raised  a  large 
family  in  Dallas  county. 

Patterson,  James  M.,  from  Warren  county,  Ken- 
tucky, in  January,  1846;  married  Sarah  E.  Self; 
merchant  from  1846  to  '54;  chief  justice  of  the 
county,  1854  to  '66;  his  children,  Florence  Belle 
is  the  wife  of  John  Spellman;  Kitty  is  the  wife 
of  Joseph  Shuford;  Charles  L.  is  dead;  James  M. 
and  Edward  are  single;  Rowena  is  the  wife  of 
Thomas  H.  Patterson;  Emma  married  M.  Couch- 
man. 

Pryor,  Dr.  Samuel  B.,  and  young  wife,  from  Virginia 
and  last  from  Arkansas,  came  in  1846.  His  first 
child,  Ashton  R.  (late  police  officer),  was  born  in 
Dallas  October  29,  1847.  Dr.  P.  was  district  clerk 
from  December,  1846,  to  August,  1850 — was  the 
first  mayor  of  Dallas,  in  1856-'7,  and  died  in  1867. 
His  widow  and  other  children  reside  in  Southwest- 
ern Arkansas. 

Porter,  John  F.,  and  family  came  before  July,  1848. 

Porter,  George  R.,  came  single. 

Paxton,  Edwin  H.,  came  single  before  1848. 

Pound,  Bales  0.  C,  came  single  before  1858. 

Pemberton,  Gideon,  came  single  before  1848. 

Roland,  Joseph,  and  family  came  before  July,  1848. 

Ricketts,  Zedekiah,  and  family  before  1848. 

Ricketts,  Daniel  D.  and  David  M.,  single. 

Reed,  Benjamin,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Ramsey,  Samuel,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Runyon,  Silas  R.,  and  family,  came  before  1848. 

Reedy,  David  W.,  came  in  1845;  his  wife,  Mary  E. 
,  in  1844. 

THE  RAWLINS  FAMILY,  FROM  ILLINOIS. 

Rawlins,  Elder  Roderick,  and  wife  Mary  came  in 
1844.  Of  their  children,  Louisa  married  Lewis 
Hull ;  Nancy  married  Pleasant  Taylor  (now  dead)  ; 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  347 

Pleasant  King  married  Mrs.  Lydia  Spruance — he 
died  June  6,  1887;  Lucinda  married  Samuel  Kel- 
ler; Tabitha  married  Carlos  Wise;  Mary  married 
M.  M.  Miller;  Roderick  A.  (Capt.  Aleck)  married 
Virginia  Bledsoe;  Elder  William  married  in  Illi- 
nois. 

Rawlins,  Pleasant  K.,  as  above ;  his  stepson,  Thom- 
as Spruance,  married  Bettie  Bledsoe;  his  son,  A. 
H.  Rawlins,  married  first  Maggie  Swindells,  sec- 
ond Georgie  Rogers;  R.  D.  (Dod)  married  Hen- 
rietta Jacobs,  is  dead ;  John  S.  married  Mary  Pea- 
cock; Lucy  A.  married  Robert  Brotherton,  who 
died  in  1866  or  '67,  and  she  is  now  the  wife  of 
Irvine  Lavender;  Mary  E.  married  James  Henry 
Ellis;  Benj.  S.  died  in  1863. 

Rawlins,  Elder  William,  son  of  Elder  Roderick,  and 
family  came  in  1846.  His  children  are  Hubbard 
M.,  George,  Allen,  Frank,  Malinda,  Lucinda  and 
Mrs.  Richard  T.  Bandy. 

Rogers,  Elijah,  married  Lourina  Crowley. 

Robinson,  John  B.,  came  before  July,  1848. 

Robertson,  Mrs.  Elizabeth,  and  family,  before  July, 
1848. 

Robertson,  Hugh,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 

Robertson,  Joseph  M.,  came  single  before  July, 
1848. 

Rhodes,  Elisha  L.,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 

Rhodes,  Frederick,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 

Ray,  Robert,  and  family,  came  from  Illinois  in  1845. 
Of  his  children,  all  coming  with  him,  Susan  mar- 
ried Andrew  T.  Nanny  and  Mary  married  Benj. 
F.  Andrews,  both  in  illinois ;  William  married  Lu- 
cinda Hart;  Elizabeth  married  Abe  Hart;  Re- 
becca married  John  H.  Daniel,  a  soldier  in  the 
Mexican  war ;  Nancy  married  Timothy  Caldwell ; 
Jane  married  Joseph  Lockett ;  of  twin  boys,  Robert 
married  Emiline  McCommas  and  Samuel  married 


348  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

Miss  White;  Martha  married  James  Kinchelow, 
who  died  a  prisoner  in  Camp  Douglas,  Chicago — 
ten  and  all  married. 

Ray,  George  M.,  came  in  1846  from  Tennessee.  His 
wife  Subrina,  is  now  the  widow  of  James  Shep- 
pard,  residing  in  Dallas  with  her  stepdaughter, 
Mrs.  E.  A.  (Dr.  A.  A.)  Johnston. 

Rowe,  Win.,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 

Rowe,  Wm.  B.,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 

Rowe,  John  M.  and  Wm.  H.,  single,  before  July, 
1848. 

Riley,  James  R.,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 

Riley,  Thomas,  came  single  before  July,  1848. 

Ramsey,  Isaac,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 

ROMINE,  Wm.,  came  single  before  July,   1848. 

Reedy,  E.  L.,  came  single  before  July,  1848. 

Renfro,  Creath,  and  family — removed  to  the  fron- 
tier, where  he  and  his  son  were  killed  by  Indians 
in  1859  or  '60. 

Ray,  James,  came  single  before  July,  1848. 

Ream,  Mrs.  Sarah,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 

Ream,  Sylvester,  came  single  before  July,  1848. 

Roberts,  Joel,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 

Ramsey,  Samuel,  and  family,  before  July,  1848. 

Rattan,  Thomas,  and  family  came  from  Illinois  1841 
— settled  in  Collin;  of  his  children,  Hamp,  then 
of  Bird's  Fort,  was  killed  by  Indians,  one  and  one- 
half  miles  southwest  of  Carrollton,  Dallas  county, 
Christmas  day,  1841;  Littleton;  John  died  in  Col- 
lin; Mary  married  Wm.  Fitzhugh;  Harriet  mar- 
ried Andrew  J.  Witt,  and  died  in  Dallas ;  Ann  mar- 
ried James  W.  Throckmorton;  Hugh  married  a 
daughter  of  David  Turner;  Jennie  married  Mr. 
Moore  and  died  in  Collin;  Tollie  married  Robert 
Dowell  and  lives  in  Collin;  Edward  married  Miss 
Stiff  and  lives  in  Collin;  Louisa  married  Hogan 
Witt   (cousin  of  Preston),  of  Collin;  Temperance 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  349 

married   John  Kincaid ;   Thomas   lives  near  Van 
Alstyne. 

Robinson,  Wm.,  married  Ann  Matterson. 

Robinson,  J.  M.,  married  Louisa  Newton. 

Sheppard,  Mrs.  Subrina,  daughter  of  Hugh  Brown, 
of  Georgia,  came  to  Dallas  the  wife  of  George  M. 
Ray,  in  1846;  her  second  husband  was  Elder 
Thacker  V.  Griffin,  and  she  is  now  the  widow  of 
James  Sheppard,  residing  with  her  stepdaughter, 
Mrs.  E.  A.   (Dr.  A.  A.)  Johnston — now  dead. 

Smith,  Patrick  P.,  a  soldier  at  Monterey  in  1846 — 
son  of  Abraham  T.  Smith,  who  was  killed  by  In- 
dians, on  the  Brazos,  in  1841 — now  dead. 

Shahan,  David,  and  family  came  in  1844  or  '45. 

Shahan,  Wm.  P.,  came  single  in  1844  of  '45. 

Smith,  Chilton,  and  family  came  in  1844  or  '45. 

Sprowls,  William,  and  family,  from  Illinois  in  1844 
or  '45. 

Samson,  Dr.  Jonathan  L.,  came  in  1845;  visited  Cal- 
ifornia and  died.  His  widow  married  the  late  Mr. 
Bourgeois. 

Sharrock,  James,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Sharrock,  Everard,  and  family  before  1848. 

Sharrock,  Everard,  Jr.,  came  single  before  1848. 

Sharrock,  George  W.,  came  single  before  1848. 

Simmons,  James  A.,  and  family,  died  early. 

Stewart,  Samuel  A.,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Sloan,  Robert  (a  gallant  and  early  Indian  fighter) 
and  family  came  from  Red  River  county  in  1844. 
He  commanded  a  scouting  party  through  Dallas 
county  in  1840;  died  in  Stephensville  in  1886. 

Sloan,  Samuel  (brother  of  Robert) ,  came  from  Red 
River  county  in  1844 ;  was  a  soldier  in  the  Texian 
army  of  1836.     He  now  lives  in  Stephens  county. 

Stewart,  Wm.  A.,  married  Susan  0.  Harwood. 

Slayback,  Anderson,  married  Lucinda  Chapman. 

Stone,  Thomas,  married  Elizabeth  Ross. 


350  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

Scroggins,  Wm.,  married  Lucretia  Strong. 

Smith,  Rev.  James  A.,  and  family  came  from  Mis- 
sissippi in  1846.  [He,  his  twin  brother,  Wesley, 
now  of  Eastland  county,  and  his  brother  William 
A.,superintendentoftheState  Blind  Asylum  during 
the  war,  now  dead,  were  all  Methodist  preachers,  and 
each  one,  in  the  locality  of  his  residence,  from  his 
ruddy  complexion  and  bristly  hair,  was  known  by 
the  soubriquet  of  "Cedar  Top" — by  the  way,  three 
excellent  and  sincere  men.]  James  A.  Smith's  chil- 
dren were  John  Wesley,  married  Miss  Wilburn ; 
Joshua  Lafayette,  married  Miss  Daniels — a  cap- 
tain in  Stone's  Sixth  Texas  cavalry,  murdered  in 
Dallas  in  1867  by  Wilson,  an  attache  of  the  Freed- 
men's  bureau,  who  fled  the  country;  Robert  mar- 
ried Sophronia  Wnn;  Fanny  Killen  married  John 
M.  Laws,  and  is  dead. 

Swing,  Matt  L.,  came  in  1848. 

Snow,  Wm.  J.,  came  single  before  1848;  married 
Eleanor  Otwell. 

Snow,  J.  M.,  came  from  Arkansas  in  1848. 

Stadden,  Seth,  and  family  from  Illinois  in  1846. 

Story,  John  L.,  before  1848. 

Scrutch,  Nathan,  single,  before  1848. 

Story,  Thomas  C,  single,  before  1848. 

Starkey,  Jesse  S.,  before  1848. 

Simpson,  Lionel,  before  1848. 

Smith,  Absolem,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Snyder,  John  D.,  single,  before  1848. 

Scurlock,  John,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Sewell,  James  M.  and  Thos.  J.,  single,  before  1848. 

Sweet,  Levi  J.,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Sage,  Daniel,  before  1848. 

Taylor,  Pleasant,  in  Illinois  married  Nancy,  daugh- 
ter of  Elder  Roderick  Rawlins ;  came  in  1844 ;  their 

children  were  Alonzo,  Addie  Paris,  all  dead ; , 

killed  by  a  pet  bear;  living — Pleasant  King,  who 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  351 

married  Annie  Collins,  and  Sophronia,  wife  of  R. 
P.  Aunspaugh;  Alfred  married  Lizzie  Green,  now 
the  wife  of  Frank  M.  Ervay. 
Tuggle,  Henry,  married  Minerva  A.  Biffle. 
Trees,  Crawford,  came  in  1845.     In  1846,  married 
Annie  M.  Kimmel,  being  the  first  couple  married 
in  the  new  county  in  July  or  August,  1846,  the 
record  being  destroyed.    Her  name  is  erroneously 
printed  Henderson  on  a  former  page. 
Thomas,  John  (the  first  chief  justice  of  Dallas  coun- 
ty), wife  Hannah  and  children  came  from  Mis- 
souri in  1844.     Their  children — John,  died  a  sol- 
dier in  Mexico;  Alex.  A.,  also  a  soldier  in  Mexico, 
marrfed  Mary  E.  Armstrong;  Ellis    C.    married 
Julia  Moon;    Elizabeth    B.    married    Charles  H. 
Durgin ;  Eliza  married  Reese  Jones ;  Sarah  A.  mar- 
ried P.  A.  Sayre. 

Turner,  Wm.  A.,  came  single  before  July,   1848, 
married  Alinda  Turner. 

Toliver,  J.  M.,  from  Illinois  in  1846. 

Tilley,  Jefferson,  came  in  1844 — married  Eliza  Cole. 

Thompson,  Marlin  M.,  came  in  1844;  married  Lucy 
Horton. 

Turner,  Levi,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Turner,  Wm.,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Turner,  Wm.   (?),  single,  before  1848. 

Taylor,  Calvin,  single,  before  1848. 

Trimble,  Wm.  C,  single,  before  1848. 

Tucker,  John  S.,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Vance,  Thomas,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Vance,  John  C,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Vance,  Charles  K.,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Valentine,  Henry  K.,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Vernoy,  Thomas,  came  single  in  1845,  married  Julia 
A  Bast  and  died  early. 

Vernoy,  Julia,  married  first — Bast  and  second  Wm. 
James. 


352  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

Vail,  Hiram,  came  single,  married  Betsey  Keenan. 

Weatherford,  Jefferson  and  family,  from  Kentucky, 
but  from  Illinois  in  1845. 

Weatherford,  Money,  and  family,  from  Illinois  in 
1845. 

Weatherford,  Hairbird,  single,  from  Illinois  in 
1845. 

Wampler,  Thos.  J.,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Wampler,  Valentine,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Wampler,  Martin  J.  S.,  Austin  C.  and  Wm.  R.  came 
single. 

Walker,  Wm.  J.,  and  family,  from  Tennessee  1846. 

Walker,  A.  G.,  from  Kentucky  1845. 

Wilson,  Richard,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Wilson,  Aaron  B.,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Wilson,  George,  and  family,  from  Missouri  in  1840 ; 
from  Lamar  county  in  1848.  Among  his  children 
are  Thomas,  Charles,  James  K.  P.  and  Nancy  E., 
wife  of  James  N.  Whittenburg — was  lieutenant 
colonel  in  Young's  regiment  at  the  close  of  the 
Mexican  war. 

W'illiams,  Thomas  C.,  and  family,  from  Tennessee 
in  1845.  Among  his  children  are  T.  J.,  J.  B.,  E. 
A.,  M.  J.  and  R.  H.  I  am  not  responsible  beyond 
the  initials. 

Wright,  John  W.,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Wright,  John  W.  (2)  and  family,  before  1848. 

Wand,  Henry,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Wilburn,  Robert,  and  family,  came  in  1845;  in 
Grand  Prairie  fight. 

Wilburn,  Edward,  and  family  came  in  1845. 

Wilburn,  Hiram,  and  family  came  in  1845. 

Winn,  Francis  A.,  and  family  came  in  1845;  among 
his  children  were  Berry;  W.  M.  married  Ann  R. 
West ;  Emma  married  John  R.  West ;  Viola  H.  mar- 
ried Edward  W.  Hunt ;  Helena  married  T.  J.  Winn. 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  353 

West,  James,  and  family,  before  1848. 

Whitlock,  John,  and  family,  before  1849. 

West,  Robert  J.,  and  family  came  in  1845;  of  his 
children,  Ann  R.  married  W.  M.  Winn;  Helena 
married  first  T.  J.  Winn,  second  Dr.  C.  C.  Gilles- 
pie; Alice  married  Thomas  H.  Floyd;  John  R. 
married  Emma  Winn ;  Robert  H.  dead. 

Warner,  John,  came  single  before  1848. 

Webb,  Alex.  W.,  from  Illinois  to  Bowie  county  in 
1840 — to  Bird's  Fort  in  1841 — escaped  when  the 
Indians  killed  Rattan;  settled  with  his  family  in 
Dallas  county  in  1842. 

THE  WITT  BROTHERS  FROM  ILLINOIS. 

Witt,  Preston,  came  in  1842 — died  in  1877 — his  wid- 
ow lives  in  Kansas. 
Witt,  Wade  H.,  and  family  came  in  1845. 
Witt,  Andrew  J.,  came  in  1845;  married  Harriet 

Rattan — both  dead. 
Witt,  Pleasant,  twin  of  Preston,  came  in  1842,  and 

is  dead. 
Witt,  Eli,  and  family,  now  over  ninety,  lives  at  San 

Antonio. 
Witt,  John,  came  single. 
Wise,    Carlos,    came   single   before    1848 — married 

Tabitha  Rawlins. 
Young,  John,  and  family,  came  before  1848. 
Zachary,  Mrs.  Sarah,  and  two  children  came  from 

Kentucky  in  1845;  her  daughter  married  Henry 

C.  Long  and  died  early. 


SAMUEL  B.  PRYOR 


Samuel  B.  Pryor  and  young  wife  came  from  Virginia,  and  last  from 
Arkansas.  His  first  child,  Ashton,  was  born  in  Dallas,  Texas,  October 
29,  1847.  Dr.  Pryor  was  District  Clerk  from  December,  1846,  to  August, 
1850,   and   was   the  first  Mayor  of  Dallas. 


J.  M.  CROCKETT 

J.  M.  Crockett  and  wife  came  from  Tennessee  in  1847.  He  was 
very  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  Dallas  County  in  an  early  day.  He  was 
second  mayor  of  Dallas  and  served  three  terms.  He  was  elected  in  1853 
as  representative  of  Dallas  county  and  served  three  terms  until  1859,  and 
served   one   term  as  Lieutenant-Governor  from  1861  to  1863. 


ISAAC  C.  NAYLOR, 
Third   Mayor  of   Dallas. 


JUDGE  WM.  M.  HORD 


358  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

JUDGE  W.  H.  HORD 

W.  H.  Hord  and  his  wife  Mary  J.  Hord  (nee 
Crockett),  came  from  Tennessee  in  the  fall  of  1844, 
and  arrived  in  Dallas  County,  Texas,  on  the  12th 
day  of  January,  1845,  and  settled  on  what  is  now 
called  Oak  Cliff,  and  Cedar  Creek  at  that  time.  W. 
H.  Hord  was  born  April  5,  1809,  in  Staunton,  Vir- 
ginia; Mary  J.  Crockett  was  born  in  Cheraw,  S.  C, 
April  10,  1812,  moved  to  Tennessee  and  were  mar- 
ried there  in  Troy,  O'Bryen  County.  Left  there  for 
Texas  in  1844,  and  arrived  in  Dallas  County  and  set- 
tled on  Cedar  Creek  on  January  12,  1845. 

Children,  Wm.  Henry,  T.  A.,  John  G.,  F.  P.,  and 
Mattie  J.,  who  is  now  Mrs.  J.  A.  Crawford.  William 
Henry  and  J.  G.  and  F.  P.  Hord  are  dead. 

W.  H.  Hord  died  in  1902,  at  the  age  of  92. 

Hord's  Ridge,  Cedar  Springs  and  Dallas  were 
candidates  for  the  county  seat  of  Dallas  County.  The 
election  being  held,  Hord's  Ridge  received  13  votes 
less  than  Dallas;  then  Cedar  Springs,  being  on  the 
same  side  of  the  river  with  Dallas,  withdrew,  and 
the  election  was  held  again,  and  Dallas  received  the 
majority  of  28  votes  over  Hord's  Ridge. 

Mr.  Hord  was  our  second  Chief  Justice,  and  serv- 
ed from  1848  to  1850.  He  married  the  first  couple 
after  the  county  was  organized.  Their  names  were 
Crawford  Treese  and  Annie  M.  Kimble.  Judge  Hord 
was  a  prominent  and  a  popular  man  during  his  long 
live  in  Dallas,  and  was  honored  and  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him. 


JOHN  HUFFHINES 

John  Huffhines  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1800,  of 
German  ancestry,  and  came  to  Texas  in  1853.  His 
wife,  Elizabeth  Wright,  of  New  York,  having  four- 
teen children,  all  lived  to  be  grown  and  married. 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  359 

There  are  over  one  hundred  grand  children  and  great 
grand  children  too  numerous  to  mention.  Eight  of 
them  were  in  the  Confederate  Army — William  and 
Phil,  and  Tom  and  Daniel  Doty,  P.  B.  Harris,  and  W. 
J.  Halsell,  lost  three  sons  in  law,  were  with  Morgan 
and  captured  in  the  Ohio  raid.  George  was  killed  at 
Chickamauga.    Chris  died  in  Louisiana. 

His  daughters,  Fannie  married  J.  P.  Saunders; 
Mary,  Daniel  Doty ;  Elizabeth  married  W.  J.  Halsell ; 
Amanda,  F.  B.  Harris;  Cinderella,  Henry  Hatcher. 
Mr.  John  Huffhines,  Sr.,  died  March  15,  1875,  his 
wife  in  1886. 

The  descendants  and  connections  of  John  Huff- 
hines at  this  time  will  probably  number  nearly  500. 
The  Huffhines  were  a  kind  of  people  to  develop  a 
new  country.  None  of  them  ever  aspired  to  office, 
and  they  did  not  try  to  bring  themselves  into  public 
notice,  neither  did  they  spend  much  time  in  idle  talk. 
They  found  here  a  new  and  wild  country,  untouched 
by  the  finger  of  man,  and  they  converted  it  into  a 
garden  spot,  and  caused  the  wilderness  to  blossom  as 
the  rose.  None  of  them  ever  held  an  office  or  ever 
asked  for  one ;  and  as  far  as  I  know  not  one  of  them 
was  ever  sued  for  debt,  and  all  of  that  multitude  of 
Huffhines  were  good  for  their  promises.  Such  men 
are  the  stay  and  the  strength  and  the  backbone  of 
our  country,  and  when  they  came  here  they  must 
have  realized  that  they  were  a  part  of  the  advance 
guard  going  out  in  obedience  to  the  command  of  God 
to  subdue  and  replenish  the  earth,  and  they  certainly 
have  obeyed  the  command  to  the  letter. 


CHARLES  H.  DURGIN 

Charles  H.  Durgin  was  an  early  arrival  in  the 
Republic  of  Texas,  settling  in  1842  in  what  is  now 
Jefferson,  Marion  County,  Texas.  From  there  he 
went  to   San  Antonio  and  came  to   Dallas  in  the 


360  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

spring  of  1844,  where  he  at  once  opened  a  mercan- 
tile business,  being  one  of  the  two  business  houses 
then  operated  in  what  is  now  known  as  Dallas.  He 
continued  in  business  for  some  four  years,  and  as  an 
adjunct  of  his  business  was  appointed  the  first  post- 
master of  Dallas — about  1846. 

He  went  to  New  Haven,  Conn.,  in  1852,  for  medi- 
cal treatment,  and  there  died  at  the  age  of  33. 

The  original  post  office  letter  case  consisted  of  a 
piece  of  heavy  duck,  seemingly  "homespun,"  and  un- 
questionably home  made,  with  a  system  of  alpha- 
betically arranged  and  lettered  pockets  in  which  the 
mail  was  distributed  and  the  entire  outfit  was  hung 
upon  the  wall.  This  old  letter  case  was,  prior  to  the 
death  of  "Aunt  Lizzie" — Mrs.  Elizabeth  B.  Durgin 
— wife  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  given  by  her  to 
her  grand-nephew,  William  Cochran,  of  the  Registry 
Department,  Dallas  Post  Office. 

Charles  H.  Durgin  was  born  in  Springfield, 
Massachusetts,  in  1821,  was  educated  in  the  city  of 
his  birth  and  Chicago,  Illinois.  He  was  married 
in  Dallas  County,  in  May,  1848,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
B.  Thomas,  their  marriage  license  being  the  first  to 
be  issued  in  Dallas  County. 

Mrs.  Durgin's  parents,  John  and  Hannah 
(Andes)  Thomas,  were  born  respectively  in  Ten- 
nessee and  Virginia,  and  were  married  in  Sevier 
County,  Tennessee.  Her  father,  John  Thomas,  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  Chief  Justice  when  Dallas 
County  was  organized  in  1846,  and  therefore  the 
first  Chief  Justice. 

Wm.  M.  Cochran,  a  kinsman  by  marriage,  being 
the  first  County  Clerk  of  Dallas  County. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  B.  Durgin  owned  at  her  death, 
and  had  lived  for  many  years  prior  to  her  removal 
to  Dallas,  on  part  of  the  original  headright  patented 
to  her  father.  She  died  recently.  She  only  had  one 
son,  Charles,  who  died  many  years  ago. 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  361 

JOHN  THOMAS 

John  Thomas  was  born  in  Sevier  County,  Tennes- 
see, — ,  and  married  Miss  Hannah 

Andes,  a  Virginian  by  birth,  their  union  being  cele- 
brated in  Seviersville,  Sevier  County,  Tennessee. 
Isaac  Thomas,  father  of  John  Thomas,  being  also  a 
Tennesseean  and  a  Revolutionary  soldier  as  well  as 
a  participant  in  the  early  Indian  wars. 

John  Thomas  took  an  active  part  in  the  war  of 
1812  (second  war  with  England),  the  Cherokee  war, 
Black  Hawk  War,  and  the  troubles  with  the  Mormons 
or  Latter  Day  Saints. 

In  1833  he  settled  in  Independence,  Jackson 
County,  Missouri,  living  there  until  1844,  when  he 
removed  to  what  is  now  Dallas  County,  Texas. 

He  took  an  active  part  in  the  political  affairs  of 
this  section,  and  was  elected  the  first  Chief  Justice 
of  Dallas  County,  July,  1846,  to  August,  1848.  He 
died  in  1878,  and  his  wife  in  1875. 

Nine  children  were  born  to  John  and  Hannah 
Andes  Thomas,  viz.:  Cynthia  A.,  wife  of  William 
Jenkins,  both  deceased;  Henry,  who  died  in  Mis- 
souri about  1841 ;  Ellis  E.,  who  died  serving  the  Con- 
federacy in  1865 ;  Alexander  A.,  who  died  in  Dallas 
County;  Elizabeth  B.  (Mrs.  Durgin),  now  dead; 
John  T.,  who  died  in  Mexico.  He  and  his  brother 
Alexander  A.  both  being  soldiers  in  the  second  war 
with  Mexico;  Jane,  wife  of  Edward  Hunt,  died  in 
Dallas  in  1856;  Sarah  A.,  wife  of  F.  A.  Sayre  of 
Bowie,  Montague  County,  Texas;  and  Eliza  Jones, 
who  died  in  Johnson  County,  Texas,  in  June,  1883. 


COL.  GEORGE  WASHINGTON  RECORD. 

Col.  George  Washington  Record  emigrated  to 
Dallas  County  in  1853  from  Marshall  County,  Ten- 
nessee, his  birthplace.    His  father  being  a  native  of 


362  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

Virginia,  but  moved  to  Tennessee  at  a  very  early- 
day,  and  there  died.  The  old  homestead  of  Col. 
Record  being  situated  some  five  miles  northwest  of 
Dallas,  at  what  is  commonly  known  as  the  "Record 
Crossing,"  on  Elm  Fork  of  the  Trinity  River.  At 
this  point  he  erected  a  mill,  which  for  many  years 
bore  his  name. 

Back  in  the  old  commonwealth  of  Tennessee  he 
married  Alice  Amanda  Hughes,  sister  of  Wm.  H. 
("Uncle  Buck")  Hughes.  Of  this  union  there  lived 
to  be  grown  the  following  children :  John  S.,  Alice, 
Joseph  W.,  George  Washington,  Narcissus,  Mary 
Ann,  and  Elizabeth  Zulika.  John  A.  now  lives  in 
Marshall,  Texas.  Alice  is  the  widow  of  George  Penn, 
Joseph  W.  died  February  28th,  1896,  George  Wash- 
ington died  about  1870,  Narcissus  ("Notty")  mar- 
ried James  Horn,  of  Dallas  County,  and  died  about 
1890,  Mary  Ann,  now  the  wife  of  W.  W.  Weston,  of 
Dallas,  Elizabeth  Zulika  (Bettie)  now  the  wife  of 
John  S.  Corley,  of  Mexia,  Texas. 

It  should  be  stated  in  this  connection  that  Col. 
George  W.  Record  had  by  former  marriage  two 
daughters — Martha,  who  married  George  Laws,  and 
Mary  Ann,  who  married  William  Knight,  all  of 
whom  are  now  dead. 


CLAYTON  RODGERS 

A  Tennesseean,  came  to  Texas  in  1847 
with  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Brooks  Rodgers,  and 
two  children,  Ralph  and  Mary  Jane.  They 
first  settled  in  Grayson  County,  but  did  not 
remain  there  long;  they  made  a  wise  choice 
and  moved  to  the  free  State  of  Denton.  I  hope 
the  reader  will  not  think  that  I  am  making  sport  of 
Denton  by  calling  her  the  free  State.  Far  from  it. 
It  was  there  I  spent  the  happiest  part  of  my  life.  I 
have  crossed  it  from  side  to  side  and  from  end  to 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  363 

end,  and  always  found  a  welcome  in  every  home,  and 
it  would  be  almost  as  hard  for  me  to  forget  the  lov- 
ing mother  that  bore  me  as  to  forget  the  kind  and 
generous  people  of  Denton  County.  It  was  there  I 
spent  the  glorious  days  of  youth,  when  all  were  free 
and  happy,  and  I  often  think  of  and  can  never  for- 
get the  girls  and  boys  and  the  good  old  days  I  spent 
with  them  in  youth  so  long  ago. 

But  something  beautiful  has  vanished 

And  we  sigh  for  it  in  vain ; 
We  behold  it  everywhere  on  the  earth  and  in  the  air 

But  it  never  comes  again. — J.  L.  S. 


CLAYTON  RODGERS 

Clayton  Rodgers  and  family  were  the  kind  of 
people  to  build  up  a  new  country.  They  came  from 
Tennessee.  That  alone  stands  for  success.  The 
Tennesseeans  have  done  a  great  deal  for  Texas.  Sam 
Houston  came  from  Tennessee,  and  others  like  him 
brought  grit  and  energy  with  them,  and  that  is  what 
it  takes  to  develop  a  new  country.  That,  with  courage 
that  never  backs  down,  will  accomplish  wonders. 
Time  has  proven  that  the  Rodgers  family  were  pos- 
sessed of  all  these  traits  of  character.  Clayton  Rod- 
gers and  family  settled  near  the  head  of  Steward's 
Creek,  about  a  mile  from  where  the  town  of  Frisco 
now  stands,  and  there  pre-empted  land.  The  historic 
town  of  Stewardsville  was  situated  near  there,  but 
like  some  of  the  ancient  cities,  there  is  no  traces  of 
it  left,  although  once  its  name  was  known  through- 
out the  States,  and  in  Europe,  and  its  splendor  was 
talked  much  of  in  England.  But  it  proved  to  be  all 
on  paper  except  one  cabin  10x12  ft.  in  extent.  The 
Rodgers  family  came  to  Texas  at  a  time  when  it  tried 
men's  souls.  The  oldest  son,  Ralph,  did  the  milling 
for  two  years,  and  would  ride  horseback  to  Bonham 


364  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

to  mill  when  only  eight  years  old — a  distance  of  fifty 
miles,  and  the  first  crop  they  cultivated  was  twelve 
miles  from  their  home. 

Clayton  and  Elizabeth  Rodgers  raised  a  family 
of  seven  children — four  boys  and  three  girls — whose 
names  are  as  follows :  Ralph,  Mary  Jane,  Matthew, 
Maria  Francis,  Joe  B.,  Tennie  and  I.  S.  They  were 
all  born  here  except  the  two  oldest — Ralph  and  Mary 
Jane.  The  children  grew  up  and  married  in  the 
neighborhood  they  were  raised  in,  and  the  descend- 
ants of  this  family  now  number  one  of  the  largest  in 
North  Texas,  and  are  held  in  the  highest  esteem, 
many  of  them  having  held  very  responsible  positions 
of  honor  and  truth.  Joe  B.  Rodgers  is  now  serving 
his  second  term  as  treasurer  of  Collin  County  and 
Dr.  I.  S.  is  the  present  Mayor  of  Frisco  and  enjoying 
a  very  large  and  lucrative  practice  of  medicine.  They 
are  more  than  an  ordinary  family,  and  have  done 
much  in  developing  and  improving  that  part  of  the 
country.  The  oldest  son,  Ralph,  enlisted  in  the  Con- 
federate army  and  served  throughout  the  entire  war. 


WILLIAM  B.  MILLER 

A  pioneer  of  Dallas  County,  was  born  in  Madison 
County,  Ky.,  in  1807,  the  second  of  seven  children 
born  to  John  and  Mary  Brown  Miller,  natives  of 
Kentucky.  Mr.  Miller  was  reared  to  farm  life,  and 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Madison  County. 
Alabama,  and  at  the  Academy  at  Huntsville.  In 
1847,  he  moved  to  Dallas  County  and  settled  in  Pre- 
cinct No.  1,  near  Dallas,  and  from  that  time  to  the 
time  of  his  death  he  ranked  as  one  of  the  foremost 
and  most  honorable  citizens  of  Dallas  County.  He 
lived  to  be  a  very  old  man.  He  departed  this  life 
not  many  years  ago.  He  was  married  in  1828  to 
Elizabeth  Waddy,  also  a  native  of  Kentucky,  whose 
ancestry  on  one  side  is  traceable  back  to  the  Chero- 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  365 

kee  Indians.  By  this  marriage  there  was  one  child, 
Charilans,  who  did  reside  in  the  Cherokee  Nation 
and  was  a  neighbor  of  my  Bro.  William.  Charilans  is 
now  dead.  He  was  a  gallant  colonel  in  the  Confeder- 
ate army  from  Texas.  He  was  familiarly  known  as 
Crill.  Mr.  Miller,  Sr.,  the  subject  of  our  sketch, 
married  Minerva  Barnes,  also  a  native  of  Madison 
County,  Ky.,  and  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Patsy  Oden 
Barnes,  natives  of  Kentucky.  This  Mrs.  Miller  died 
in  1856,  after  having  had  five  children ;  Alonzo,  who 
died  in  1855;  Martha,  wife  of  W.  C.  Leonard,  of 
Kaufman  county ;  Mary,  wife  of  G.  W.  Guess ;  Eliza- 
beth, who  married  John  Edmondson,  now  dead,  and 
Susan,  who  married  Dr.  Ewing,  of  Dallas, 
is  now  dead.  Mr.  Miller  married  again  in  1860 
to  Mrs.  Emma  Miller,  widow  of  Madison  M. 
Miller,  and  daughter  of  Silas  H.  and  Amy 
Spencer  Dewey,  natives  of  New  York.  The 
grandmother  Dewey,  previously  Miss  Hyde,  was  a 
grandaughter  of  Lord  Chancellor  Hyde.  Silas  H. 
Dewey  came  to  Texas  in  1855.  He  died  near  Bloom- 
field,  Mo.,  in  1867.  His  wife  died  in  Grayson  Co., 
Texas,  in  1884.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  have  had  three 
children,  viz. :  Chas.,  J.  H.  and  Minnie.  The  latter 
is  the  wife  of  Barry  Miller  of  Dallas. 


REV.  WILLIAM  ALLEN 

Rev.  Wm.  Allen  was  born  in  Barren  County, 
Kentucky,  March  18th,  1834,  and  died  recently  at 
Frisco,  Collin  County,  Texas.  He  was  a  methodist 
preacher,  and  has  lived  a  life  of  usefulness.  He  was 
prominent  and  practical  and  the  friend  of  saint  and 
sinner,  and  was  held  in  high  esteem  by  all  who  knew 
him.  He  came  to  Texas  in  1855,  and  was  licensed  to 
preach  in  1860.  He  was  stationed  at  Sabine  Pass, 
on  the  Gulf,  in  1862.  He  joined  the  Confederate 
Army  and  was  soon  promoted  to  military  chaplain, 


366  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

and  continued  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Bro.  Allen 
was  not  only  an  able  and  consecrated  preacher  of 
the  gospel  of  Christ,  but  he  was  also  an  educator, 
and  taught  school  for  many  years,  and  many  of  the 
young  men  of  Collin  and  Denton  County  are  indebt- 
ed to  him  for  their  education,  and  quite  a  number 
of  Methodist  preachers  were  educated  under  him. 
He  taught  school  in  the  west  part  of  Collin  County 
for  fourteen  years.  On  June  7,  1866,  he  married 
Miss  Abbie  Mays,  daughter  of  Dr.  R.  B.  and  Nancy 
Mays,  and  settled  just  in  the  edge  of  Denton  County, 
where  he  lived  until  1904,  when  he  moved  to  the  new 
town  of  Frisco.  They  never  had  any  children,  but 
raised  several  orphans.  His  good  wife  and  a  num- 
ber of  his  brothers  and  sisters  that  live  in  Kentucky, 
and  Mrs.  A.  B.  Mayes  of  McKinney,  Texas,  survive 
him.  Bro.  Allen  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  and 
served  for  four  years.  He  was  a  very  close  student 
and  wrote  a  great  deal.  His  contributions  to  the 
papers  were  always  readable  and  full  of  well-devel- 
oped thought.  He  was  also  quite  an  author,  and 
wrote  several  books,  "Five  Years  In  the  West," 
"Southland,"  "Columbia,"  "Matter,  Man  and  Spirit," 
and  the  "Life  and  Times  of  John  B.  Denton."  These 
books  were  well  written  and  are  found  in  the  libra- 
ries and  homes  of  many  people.  Bro.  Allen,  by  econ- 
omy and  good  investments,  had  accumulated  a  large 
estate  and  was  very  liberal  and  gave  in  the  last  three 
years  before  his  death  to  various  institutions  the 
sum  of  $10,000.  He  gave  $5,000  to  Southwestern 
University,  $500  to  foreign  missions,  $500  to  the 
Methodist  Orphanage,  $500  to  Ann  Browder  Mission 
Home  in  Dallas,  $500  to  the  Methodist  Dormitory  in 
Denton.  The  chapel  of  that  institution  is  named 
in  honor  of  him.  He  gave  $1,000  to  superannuated 
Homes.  Bro.  Allen  stood  out  boldly  for  the  up- 
building of  everything  that  was  for  the  good   of 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  367 

humanity.  The  great  influence  for  good  of  this  use- 
ful and  noble  man  of  God  cannot  be  measured  now; 
it  will  go  on  and  on  down  through  the  ages,  and  may 
be  known  in  the  great  and  final  day  of  reckoning. 
Bro.  Allen  has  willed  most  of  his  magnificent  estate 
to  the  University  of  Georgetown,  amounting  to  about 
$100,000,  after  the  death  of  his  wife  to  be  known  as 
the  William  and  Abbie  Allen  Helping  Fund,  to  be 
used  toward  educating  the  poor.  This  man  was  his 
brother's  keeper,  and  did  much  to  cause  others  to 
live  better  lives,  and  it  is  certainly  a  blessed  thing 
when  the  messenger  of  death  shall  come  to  be  able 
to  look  back  over  a  useful  and  well-spent  life,  as  did 
our  departed  brother. 


E.  A.  GRACEY 

A  prominent  and  prosperous  Dallas  County  farm- 
er, was  born  in  Bond  County,  Illinois,  March  13th, 
1837,  the  youngest  son  of  eleven  children  of  William 
and  Isabella  M.  (Harris)  Gracey,  natives  of  South 
Carolina,  of  Scotch  and  Irish  descent,  and  pioneer 
settlers  of  Illinois.  At  the  age  of  13  years  Mr. 
Gracey  came  to  Texas  by  way  of  steamboat  to  New 
Orleans,  and  thence  up  Red  River  to  Jefferson,  Tex- 
as, and  walked  nearly  200  miles  to  Dallas  County. 
He  went  to  work  immediately,  finding  employment 
with  J.  M.  Crockett  at  $12.00  per  month.  He  worked 
for  him  a  few  months,  and  then  went  to  work  for 
his  brother  in  Ellis,  now  Johnson,  County,  helping 
him  to  improve  his  farm.  In  the  fall  of  1854  he 
went  with  M.  T.  Johnson,  after  whom  Johnson  Coun- 
ty was  named,  and  Capt.  Robert  Sloan.  He  went  to 
Ft.  Belknap,  as  a  prospector  for  the  Texas  &  Pacific 
Railroad  Company.  From  that  time  to  1860  he  was 
engaged  in  the  live  stock  business. 

The  Indians  had  become  very  troublesome,  and 
had  committed  many  depredations.     They  had  been 


368  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

stealing  horses  and  killing  people  and  scalping  them 
in  the  counties  further  west.  Mr.  Gracey  then  joined 
a  party  of  rangers,  and  was  in  many  Indian  fights. 
In  one  fight  they  killed  one  Indian  and  captured 
two,  and  nine  horses,  and  thirteen  at  another  time. 
After  a  year  thus  engaged  the  Civil  War  broke  out, 
and  Mr.  Gracey  enlisted  in  Company  H,  Captain  J. 
B.  Barry,  of  the  First  Texas  Calvary,  Colonel  H.  E. 
McCullough  commanding.  They  took  the  first  line 
of  post  vacated  by  the  United  States  forces  on  the 
frontier  of  Texas.  He  was  also  at  Camp  Cooper 
when  surrendered  to  the  Confederates,  and  remained 
there  until  April,  1862,  during  which  time  they  were 
in  eight  engagements  with  Indians,  killing  seventeen 
and  captured  47  head  of  horses,  and  having  four  men 
killed  and  thirteen  wounded,  besides  two  mortally 
frightened — at  least,  they  were  never  heard  of  after- 
wards. In  April,  1862,  the  company  was  reorgan- 
ized, and  Mr.  Gracey  elected  Second  Lieutenant. 
They  were  then  ordered  to  the  Rio  Grande  to  hold 
the  Mexicans  in  check,  and  at  one  time  they  were 
without  bread  for  twenty-four  days.  They  were 
sent  with  a  detachment  into  Mexico  to  buy  mules  for 
the  Confederate  Government.  They  purchased  60 
head  near  Monterey  for  $7.00  per  head. 

Next  they  were  sent  to  Corpus  Christi  and  Goliad 
and  Sabine  Pass.  At  the  latter  place  they  had  a 
battle  with  the  Federal  troops,  and  captured  two 
gunboats  and  160  prisoners.  Here  Mr.  Gracey  was 
promoted  to  First  Lieutenant.  After  this  they  went 
to  Louisiana,  and  were  in  several  engagements,  and 
were  at  Keechie,  Louisiana,  at  the  time  of  the  sur- 
render.   He  then  returned  to  Dallas  County. 

He  married  Miss  Martha  Amanda  Matlock.  They 
have  raised  a  large  family.  Fourteen  children  were 
born  to  them,  five  of  them  dying  in  infancy. 

Mr.    Gracey    is    an    elder  in  the   Presbyterian 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  369 

Church,  and  is  a  Christian  gentleman.  He  and  his 
family  are  highly  respected  by  all  who  know  them. 
Mr.  Gracey  is  a  self-made  man.  His  prosperity  is 
due  to  his  energy  and  industry  and  well  directed 
effort. 


CAPTAIN  JEFFERSON  PEAK 

Jefferson  Peak  was  born  in  Scott  County,  Ky., 
April  1,  1801.  In  1825  he  married  Martha  M. 
Reason.  War  being  declared  with  Mexico  in  1846. 
he  raised  a  company  of  Kentucky  cavalry.  March- 
ing overland,  they  joined  General  Zachary  Taylor's 
army,  near  the  Rio  Grande,  and  remained  with  him 
throughout  his  campaign  in  Northern  Mexico.  After 
peace  was  declared,  Captain  Peak  returned  to  Ken- 
tucky, where  the  company  was  disbanded.  He  was 
then  elected  to  the  Kentucky  Legislature  as  a  Whig. 
At  this  period  he  became  interested  in  stamboating, 
owning  and  operating  several  steamboats  which 
plied  between  Louisville  and  Cincinnati. 

Between  1850  and  1854  he  made  several  trips 
to  Texas,  overland,  bringing  with  him  his  three  old- 
est sons  (Dr.  C.  M.  Peak,  locating  in  Fort  Worth, 
while  it  was  yet  but  a  military  post;  Wallace  and 
Jefferson,  Jr.,  locating  in  Dallas).  In  1855  Captain 
Peak  brought  the  remainder  of  his  family  (consist- 
ing of  his  wife,  three  sons,  Junius,  Worth  and  vic- 
tor, and  three  daughters,  Sarah,  Juliette  and  Flor- 
ence) ,  to  Dallas  and  built  near  the  present  intersec- 
tion of  Peak  Avenue  and  Worth  Street,  the  first 
brick  house  erected  in  Dallas  County.  From  1857 
to  within  a  few  years  of  his  death,  Captain  Peak 
was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business. 

Always  a  firm  believer  in  a  great  future  for  Dal- 
las, he  invested  largely  in  local  realty.  Both  Cap- 
tain and  Mrs.  Peak  were  devoted  members  of  the 


370  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

Christian  Church.     The  death  of  Captain  Peak  oc- 
curred in  1885 ;  that  of  his  wife  in  1890. 

Of  their  children  five  are  now  living:  Three 
sons — Junius,  Worth  and  Victor;  and  two  daugh- 
ters, Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Harwood,  widow  of  the  late  Cap- 
tain Alex.  Harwood,  and  Mrs.  Florence  C.  Field. 
All  these  reside  in  Dallas. 


THE  MILITARY  ROAD 

This  road  was  blazed  out  through  the  timber  and 
staked  through  the  prairie  in  1840  by  Col.  Wm.  G. 
Cooke.  Provisions  had  been  made  by  Congress  at 
Austin  in  1840  for  the  opening  of  a  military  road 
from  Austin  to  Red  River,  or  the  mouth  of  the  Kiam- 
ishi  in  Red  River  County.  The  entire  route  lay 
outside  of  the  settlements,  it  being  approximately  a 
direct  line  from  Austin  to  Bonham,  then  known  as 
Fort  Inglish,  the  home  of  a  worthy  pioneer  named 
Bailey  Inglish.  Col.  Cooke  lost  five  of  his  men  at 
one  time  they  having  been  killed  by  Indians,  and  the 
entire  expedition  was  one  of  peril  and  hardship. 

"The  northern  initial  point  of  this  road  was  the 
mouth  of  Kiamishi  Creek,  on  Red  river,  in  Rea  River 
County;  thence  it  ran  southwesterly,  passing  at  or 
near  where  Paris  stands;  thence  nine  or  ten  miles 
west  of  the  present  town  of  Greenville;  thence  to 
what  was  afterwards  known  as  "McKenzie's,"  and 
later  as  "Barnes,'  "  ferry,  on  the  East  fork  of  Trin- 
ity; thence  to  the  present  county  road  crossing  on 
White  Rock,  four  miles  east  of  Dallas ;  thence  to  the 
Trinity  near  where  the  Santa  Fe  railway  crosses,  a 
little  below  Dallas;  and  thence  by  the  Waco  village 
and  fort,  on  Little  River,  to  Austin,  an  entire  dis- 
tance of  about  three  hundred  and  sixty  miles.  It 
was  "staked"  through  the  prairies  and  "blazed" 
through  timber,  but  not  opened  through  timber  and 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  371 

timbered  bottoms  till  1843,  and  then  only  to  the 
Trinity  from  the  north,  when,  a  few  settlers  having 
located  where  Dallas  is,  it  was  deflected  from  White 
Rock  so  as  to  cross  the  river  at  that  point  and  fall 
on  the  marked  line  a  little  beyond.  But  the  changes 
in  the  country,  by  immigration  in  the  next  few  years, 
were  such  as  to  supersede  portions  of  the  road  and 
eclipse  its  original  national  intendment,  insomuch 
that  many  persons  now  living  who  came  to  the  coun- 
try but  a  little  later  are  unaware  of  or  have  for- 
gotten its  origin  and  character. 

"On  the  14th  of  November,  1840,  from  his  camp 
at  Inglish's,  on  the  Bois  d'Arc,  Col.  Cooke  officially 
reported  all  the  facts  herein  recited,  up  to  that  date, 
to  Branch  T.  Archer,  Secretary  of  War,  and  has 
been  carefully  followed  in  this  narration.  In  it  he 
says  that  he  had  selected  an  eligible  location  for  a 
post,  at  which  to  store  supplies  and  station  men  for 
the  protection  of  the  Red  River  settlements  against 
the  Indians. 

"The  point  finally  chosen,  and  at  which  barracks 
Were  immediately  erected,  but  not  occupied  or  gar- 
risoned, was  at  or  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the 
present  town  of  Denison,  a  few  miles  below  Coffee's 
trading  house  on  Red  River.  In  May,  1841,  the 
Village  Creek  expedition,  in  which  Denton  was 
killed,  halted  on  the  outward  trip,  for  two  or  three 
days,  at  these  barracks,  and  on  the  return  trip  dis- 
banded at  the  same  place." 


THE  SHERIFFS  OF  DALLAS  COUNTY 

First  sheriff,  John  Huitt,  1846  to  1848. 
Roland  Huitt,  second,  1848  to  1850. 
T.  C.  Hawpe,  1850  to  1854,  two  terms;  Adam  C. 
Haught,  1854  to  1856. 

B.  M.  Henderson,  1856  to  1858.    He  was  killed  in 


372  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

Denver  while  under  guard  by  the  Federal  soldiers, 
1861.     Wormley  Carter,  1858  to  1860. 

Allen  Beard,  1860  to  1862. 

N.  0.  McAdams,  1862  to  1866,  two  terms. 

Jerry  M.  Brown,  1866  to  1867;  the  officers  were 
removed  and  others  appointed  by  the  military. 

N.  R.  Winniford  served  until  1870,  sheriff,  Jerry 
Brown,  1870  to  1872 ;  James  E.  Barkley  sheriff  1873 
to  1876;  Marion  Moon  to  1878;  Marion  Moon  re- 
elected to  1880. 

Ben  Jones,  1880  to  1882. 

William  H.  W.  Smith,  1882  to  1886,  two  terms. 

W.  H.  Lewis,  1886  to  1892,  three  terms. 

Ben  Cabell,  1892  to  1900;  resigned  in  April. 

Lee  Hughes  elected  by  the  County  Commissioners 
to  serve  unexpired  term. 

J.  Roll  Johnson  elected  and  served  two  terms 
until  1904. 

Next  A.  L.  Ledbetter ;  he  is  now  in  office. 


DISTRICT  CLERKS  OF  DALLAS  COUNTY 

1846  to  1848— first  District  Clerk,  John  C.  Mc- 
Coy, resigned.     Sam  Pryor  appointed. 

Samuel  B.  Pryor  re-elected  to  1850. 

Edward  C.  Browder,  1850  to  1864,  seven  terms. 

George  W.  Laws,  elected  1864  to  1866. 

Wm.  C.  Young,  elected  1866  to  1868. 

District  Clerk  appointed  by  the  military,  E.  B. 
Spellman,  superseded  by  Ben  Long  June  2,  1868. 
Served  until  1870. 

District  and  County  Clerk,  J.  M.  Laws,  1870  to 
1872. 

Alex  Harwood,  District  and  County  Clerk,  1872 
to  1876. 

1876  to  1880,  Wm.  A.  Harwood. 

Wm.  A.  Harwood  from  1880  to  1882. 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  373 

Henry  W.  Jones,  1882  to  1888,  three  terms. 

Joe  H.  Stewart,  1888  to  1896,  four  terms. 

Henry  W.  Jones,  1896  to  1904,  four  terms,  eight 
years. 

A.  B.  Rawlins,  1904  to  1906. 

H.  H.  Williams,  1906  to  1908 ;  and  is  now  nomi- 
nated for  another  term. 


THE  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS  OF  DALLAS 

Have  been  an  important  factor  in  building  up  the 
City  of  Dallas. 

Twenty-five  years  ago,  when  I  moved  to  Dallas 
for  the  purpose  of  giving  my  children  better  school 
advantages,  the  public  school  system  was  very  im- 
perfect, and  I  sent  my  children  to  a  private  school. 
Since  that  time  the  public  school  system  has  very 
much  improved,  and  of  late  years  the  schools  have 
been  very  well  managed,  until  the  public  school  sys- 
tem of  Dallas  is  almost  perfect.  The  capable  and 
efficient  management  of  our  last  Superintendent, 
Prof.  J.  L.  Long,  has  done  much  for  the  public 
schools.  Professors  Harris,  Hand  and  Stanberry 
all  did  their  part  in  building  up  the  public  schools  of 
Dallas  and  making  them  what  they  are  to-day. 

In  1886  there  were  no  brick  public  school  houses 
in  the  city.  At  that  time  East  Dallas  was  a  separate 
corporation,  and  we  had  no  school  house.  The  East 
Dallas  city  council  at  that  time  consisted  of  eight 
aldermen  and  the  mayor.  I  and  two  other  aldermen 
were  in  favor  of  building  a  brick  school  house,  and 
a  good  one,  for  East  Dallas,  and  the  mayor  was  with 
us,  but  we  had  five  aldermen  to  fight,  and  we  had  to 
watch  our  chances,  and  that  chance  came  when  two 
of  the  opposition  were  absent,  and  I  brought  the 
question  up,  and  it  resulted  in  a  tie  vote,  and  the 
mayor  decided  it  in  our  favor,  and  before  the  next 


374  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

meeting  we  persuaded  one  of  the  opposition  to  come 
across.  The  opposition  was  such  it  was  a  long  time 
before  we  could  secure  a  quorum  to  do  business,  and 
we  had  to  adjourn  from  time  to  time.  We  at  last 
got  tired  of  it  and  adjourned  to  meet  at  the  house  of 
one  of  the  opposition  a  few  minutes  later,  that  claim- 
ed he  was  sick,  and  after  transacting  some  business 
we  brought  up  the  school  house  question,  and  the 
sick  alderman  dashed  out  of  the  door  and  hollowed 
back,  '"No  quorum!"  but  the  mayor  decided  differ- 
ently. The  opposition  wanted  to  build  three  or  four 
small  wooden  houses.  The  brick  school  house  that 
stands  upon  solid  rock  at  the  corner  of  Gaston  and 
College  Avenue  is  the  result  of  our  labors,  and  is  a 
thing  of  beauty  and  a  joy  forever,  and  that  was  the 
first  public  brick  school  house  built  in  the  city  of 
Dallas.  It  was  built  in  the  year  1886.  In  1888  Dal- 
las proper  followed  by  building  the  Oak  Grove  and 
the  Cumberland  Hill  school  houses,  and  in  1890  the 
McKinney  Avenue  and  Cedar  Lawn  school  houses 
were  built.  We  now  have  seventeen  large  brick 
school  houses  in  the  city,  and  a  very  large  and  ele- 
gant up  to  date  brick  for  the  high  school,  and  the 
competent  and  efficient  principal,  Joseph  Morgan, 
has  charge  of  it,  and  has  served  the  public  for  many 
years. 

*G.  W.  Crutcher  was  mayor  of  East  Dallas  in 
1886,  and  the  following  named  aldermen  were  in 
office :  S.  P.  Bird,  H.  N.  Haskell,  T.  J.  Murnene,  T. 
G.  O'Riley,  F.  Ganser,  Chas.  Wood,  George  Jackson 
and  J.  T.  Farrell  were  aldermen  when  the  first  brick 
school  house  was  built  in  Dallas. 

The  old  high  school  property  was  bought  in  1887. 

Our  well  conducted  public  schools  have  brought 

many  people  to  Dallas  from  other  small  towns  and 

from    the    country.     We    now    have    nine    months 

school,  from  September  1st  to  June,  and  the  gradu- 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  375 

ates  of  the  High  School  are  able  to  get  first  class 
certificates  to  teach  in  any  of  the  common  schools  of 
the  country. 


THE  TEXAS  STATE  FAIR 

The  Texas  State  Fair,  that  has  been  held  annual- 
ly at  Dallas  for  23  years,  has  a  history  that  only  a 
few  people  know.  The  following  is  a  portion  of  the 
unwritten  history  of  the  Texas  State  Fair: 

It  may  be  a  matter  of  news  to  many  of  the  pres- 
ent citizens  of  Dallas,  but  it  is  a  fact,  nevertheless, 
that  when  this  fair  opened  its  gates  in  1886  it  owed 
$150,000,  and  that  this  sum  was  carried  on  the  per- 
sonal notes  of  a  few  men  who  now  live  in  this  city. 
It  is  also  a  fact  that  this  debt  was  carried  for  many 
years,  and,  in  fact,  until  these  gentlemen  were  en- 
abled to  bond  the  grounds  in  1892  for  $100,000, 
which  was  all  they  could  get  at  that  time,  and  in 
order  to  effect  this  negotiation  they  were  forced  to 
take  themselves  second  mortgage  bonds  on  the  fair 
grounds  for  $50,000,  every  cent  of  which  they  freely 
gave  up  and  lost  in  order,  subsequently,  to  save  the 
fair. 

The  first  eighty  acres  of  land  this  fair  ever  owned 
was  purchased  by  one  of  these  same  gentlemen  from 
three  different  owners,  and  for  which  he  was  com- 
pelled to  pay  the  cash,  and  after  doing  this  he  deeded 
it  in  fee  simple  to  the  fair,  taking  its  stock  for  pay, 
and  every  dollar  of  this  stock  was  afterwards  given 
up  and  lost  in  the  troubles  of  1892;  but  he  is  not 
alone  in  this,  for  every  one  of  the  above  gentlemen 
has  donated  in  the  past  sixteen  years  not  less  than 
$10,000  to  this  fair,  besides  giving  his  services  free 
to  keep  it  going  until  it  could  get  on  its  feet;  and 
last,  but  not  least,  not  one  of  these  men,  nor  any 
other  man,  to-day  owns  more  than  ten  shares  of 


376  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

stock  in  this  present  corporation,  which  now  owns 
and  controls  the  Texas  State  Fair. 

The  $100,000  bonds  which  were  placed  on  the  fair 
grounds  in  1892  bore  9  per  cent,  interest,  payable 
semi-annually,  which,  at  that  time,  was  not  consider- 
ed high.  Twenty-eight  thousand  dollars  of  the  above 
$100,000  was  taken  and  paid  for  in  full  by  these 
same  gentlemen  named  above ;  the  other  $72,000  was 
sold  to  an  English  syndicate.  From  1892  to  1900 
these  same  gentlemen  through  all  the  dark  days  of 
adversity  that  hung  over  the  city  of  Dallas  like  a 
funeral  pall,  stayed  by  and  labored  to  keep  the  fair 
in  operation.  Each  year,  to  create  a  fund  with  which 
to  open  the  fair,  they  borrowed  $10,000  on  their  per- 
sonal notes  and  pledged  their  credit  and  responsi- 
bility for  the  premiums,  purses  and  expenses, 
amounting  to  $60,000  each  year.  On  three  different 
occasions  during  this  period,  owing  to  hard  times 
and  rainy  weather,  destructions  of  buildings  by  fire 
and  other  calamities,  the  fair  did  not  earn  enough 
money  to  pay  its  premiums  and  debts,  and  but  for  the 
generous  aid  tendered  by  the  citizens  of  Dallas  and 
the  railways  and  other  public  institutions  of  the  city, 
the  fair  must  have  gone  into  the  past;  but  it  seemed 
that  when  everything  was  gloomy,  every  avenue  was 
shut  up  and  the  fair  was  in  the  balance,  tottering  to- 
wards its  end,  some  opening  appeared,  and  by  some 
way  or  other  the  fair  was  kept  on,  and  has  increased 
in  interest  for  many  years,  and  has  attracted  great 
multitudes  of  people,  not  only  from  our  own  great 
State,  but  from  many  other  States,  and  an  increas- 
ing interest  taken  in  it  from  year  to  year;  and  the 
year  1908  will  be  a  Fair  of  such  magnitude  in  every 
department  it  will  be  without  a  parallel  in  the  United 
States. 

The  Agriculture  and  Manufacturing  Building 
has  a  space  of  294x376  feet,  or  more  than  21  •>  acres. 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  377 

Our  Fine  Arts  and  Ladies'  Textile  Building  is 
125  feet  square,  handsomely  built  of  cement  stone 
and  covered  with  glass  domes  some  50  feet  in  height. 
The  Ladies'  Textile  Division  covers  an  area  more 
than  double  what  it  did  last  year.  The  new  steel 
Grand  Stand,  after  the  latest  model,  is  300x64  feet, 
with  a  seating  capacity  of  5500. 

Our  Implement  and  Vehicle  Department,  the 
building  is  200x500  feet.  Vast  sums  of  money  have 
been  spent  in  improvements  for  the  year  1908,  and 
it  now  enjoys  the  reputation  of  not  having  a  parallel 
in  the  whole  history  of  fairs,  and  each  entertain- 
ment grows  better,  and  the  people  of  Texas  are  proud 
of  the  great  State  Fair  at  Dallas. 


DALLAS  COUNTY  PIONEER 
ASSOCIATION 

Has  met  annually  since  the  year  1875,  but  the 
members  that  composed  the  Association  at  that  time, 
most  of  them,  have  passed  over  the  River,  and  gone 
to  their  reward,  and  others  have  taken  their  places. 
This  meeting  is  an  annual  event  that  is  looked  for- 
ward to  with  pleasure,  and  the  old  pioneers  that  are 
left  still  love  to  talk  about  the  gocd  old  days  of  the 
pioneer,  although  many  hardships  were  endured  and 
they  still  claim  thhat  they  enjoyed  life  then  as  well 
as  now,  and  we  have  all  the  comforts  of  life.  All 
men  then  seemed  to  be  honest,  and  they  trusted  each 
other  like  brothers. 

The  sons  and  daughters  and  grand  children  of 
those  old  pioneers  are  still  taking  a  great  interest  in 
the  Old  Pioneers  Association.  All  of  the  officers  of 
the  first  organization  are  now  dead  except  probably 
three  or  four.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the 
officers : 

When  the  Association  was  organized,  July  13th, 


378  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

1875,  for  temporary  organization,  W.  H.  Witt,  Presi- 
dent ;  I.  B.  Webb,  Vice,  deceased ;  M.  V.  Cole  Secre- 
tary, deceased;  a  constitution  was  adopted  and  115 
members  enrolled.  John  C.  McCoy  elected  Presi 
dent,  I.  B.  Webb,  William  H.  Hord,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
B.  Durgin,  Mrs.  Nancy  J.  Cochran,  Vice-Presidents, 
all  now  dead;  Edward  C.  Browder  (now  dead),  Sec- 
retary ;  John  W.  Smith,  Treasurer ;  Elder  Amos  Mc- 
Commas  (now  dead),  Chaplain;  Executive  Commit- 
tee, John  M.  Crockett  (now  dead),  John  H.  Cochran, 
Elizabeth  B.  Durgin  (now  dead),  Mrs.  Martha  Bee- 
man,  Mrs.  Fanny  Laws  (now  dead),  Mrs.  Thomas 
Ellis,  William  B.  Elam  and  R.  Alexander  Rawlins, 
John  Henry  Brown   (now  dead). 


BIRD'S  FORT 

In  the  fall  and  winter  of  1840-41  the  fort,  since 
known  at  Bird's  Fort,  about  twenty-two  miles  west- 
erly from  Dallas,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Main  or 
West  fork  of  the  Trinity,  was  built  by  a  company  of 
three  months  Rangers,  under  Capt.  John  Bird,  all 
residents  of  Bowie  and  Red  River  Counties.  They 
soon  returned  home  and  left  the  post  unoccupied. 
Not  far  from  the  same  time,  but  the  precise  date  is 
unknown,  Robert  Sloan,  in  command  of  a  detach- 
ment from  a  company  of  "minute"  men  in  Red  River 
County,  made  a  hasty  scout  through  this  country, 
and  while  here  one  of  the  men,  named  David  Clubb. 
formerly  of  Illinois  and  a  soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk 
War,  of  1832,  was  killed  by  Indians  at  a  small  lake 
on  the  Elm  fork  of  the  Trinity,  a  short  distance 
above  its  mouth  and  below  the  Keenan  crossing.  It 
has  been  erroneously  said  that  this  man's  name  was 
Samuel  Clubb,  and  that  he  was  killed  on  the  east 
side  of  White  Rock  Creek.  Sloan  was  not  the  cap- 
tain of  the  Red  River  company,  but  a  leader  of  one 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  379 

of  the  squads  into  which  it  was  divided  for  alternate 
scouting  purposes. 

In  the  fall  of  1841  the  families  of  Hamp  Rattan 
and  Capt.  Mabel  Gilbert,  with  a  few  men,  reached 
Bird's  Fort,  and  a  little  later  the  family  of  John 
Beeman.  Late  in  November,  1841,  a  wagon  was 
sent  back  to  Red  River  for  provisions.  It  stayed  so 
long  that  three  men  were  sent  to  find  and  assist  it, 
if  necessary.  These  men  were  Alex  W.  Webb  (did 
live  near  Mesquite,  in  Dallas  County),  Solomon  Silk- 
wood  and  Hamp  Rattan.  On  the  east  side  of  Elm 
Fork,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  southwest  of  where 
Carrollton  is,  while  cutting  down  a  large  ash  tree  to 
get  the  honey  found  to  be  in  it,  and  on  Christmas 
Day,  1841,  Rattan  was  killed  by  a  small  party  of 
concealed  Indians.  Webb  and  Silkwood  killed  one 
Indian  and  escaped  to  reach  the  Fort.  The  snow 
was  six  inches  deep.  It  was  intensely  cold,  and  so 
remained  for  several  days.  Silkwood,  from  the  ex- 
posure endured,  sickened  and  died.  A  single  man 
was  again  started  to  meet  the  relief  wagon.  He 
succeeded,  and  on  the  30th,  five  days  after  the  kill- 
ing, the  wagon  reached  the  scene.  The  body  of 
Rattan  was  still  guarded  by  his  faithful  dog.  The 
remains  were  conveyed  to  the  Fort,  and  there,  in  a 
rude  coffin  made  of  an  old  wagon  body,  committed  to 
the  earth.  His  brothers,  John  and  Liddleton  Rattan, 
had  been  in  the  fight  of  Village  Creek,  in  the  pre- 
vious May  or  June,  when  Denton  was  killed.  He  was 
also  a  brother  of  Mrs.  A.  J.  Witt,  deceased,  of  Dal- 
las County,  and  Mrs.  J.  W.,  Throckmorton  and  Mrs. 
Wm.  Fitzhugh,  of  Collin.  He  was  a  neighbor  in 
Illinois  of  our  esteemed  old  fellow-citizen  and  pio- 
neer of  Dallas  County,  Elder  John  M.  Myers,  of 
Carrollton,  (so  near  the  spot  where  he  was  killed), 
who  assures  me  that  he  was  a  worthy  man. 


380  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

RICHARDSON 

This  village  is  twelve  miles  north  and  a  little  east 
of  Dallas,  on  the  Houston  &  Texas  Central  Railroad. 
It  was  established  in  1872,  near  the  old  town  of  Back- 
enridge,  that  flourished  in  ante  bellum  days.  There 
is  no  richer  body  of  land  in  America  than  the  country 
that  surrounds  Richardson.  The  town  is  small,  prob- 
ably five  or  six  hundred.  It  is  too  near  Dallas  to 
grow  into  a  very  large  place.  The  citizens  are  en- 
terprising and  abreast  of  the  times.  They  have  one 
of  the  best  schools  in  that  section  of  the  country. 
The  farmers  are  thrifty,  and  Richardson  is  a  great 
grain  and  cotton  shipping  point.  Considering  its 
population  it  is  one  of  the  best  towns  in  the  country 
for  business  and  enterprise,  and  the  farmers  around 
Richardson  are  well  fixed,  comfortable  houses  and 
well  improved  farms. 


CARROLLTON 

Is  a  thriving  little  town,  situated  fourteen  miles 
north  and  a  little  west  of  Dallas,  and  is  on  the  M., 
K.  and  T.  Railroad,  or  what  was  first  known  as  the 
Dallas  and  Wichita  Railroad.  Later  the  Cotton  Belt 
Railroad  crossed  the  M.,  K.  &  T.  Railroad  at  that 
place,  and  still  later  the  Frisco  entered  Carrollton, 
and  has  been  extended  to  Irving  and  connected  with 
the  Rock  Island.  This  gives  Carrollton  an  outlet  in 
six  different  directions. 

Carrollton  has  become  a  good  shipping  point,  and 
has  two  large  brick  plants,  and  an  excellent  quality 
of  brick  is  manufactured  at  that  place.  My  old  farm 
was  situated  near  Carrollton,  and  in  the  pasture 
nearest  the  town  the  land  seemed  to  be  worthless. 
The  shale  came  to  the  top  of  the  ground,  and  no 
grass  would  grow  on  it.    At  that  place  now  there  is 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  381 

a  very  large  brick  plant,  and  the  land  is  more  val- 
uable than  any  other  part  of  the  farm. 


GARLAND 


Among  the  most  prominent  towns  in  the  county 
outside  of  the  City  of  Dallas  is  Garland.  It  is  sit- 
uated about  seventeen  miles  northeast  from  the  City 
of  Dallas,  on  Duck  Creek,  at  the  junction  of  the  M., 
K.  &  T.  and  the  Gulf,  Colorado  &  Santa  Fe  Railroads, 
and  near  the  site  of  the  old  town  of  Duck  Creek.  In 
1886  the  Gulf,  Colorado  &  Santa  Fe  Railroad  was  lo- 
cated and  run  about  a  mile  east  of  the  town  on 
Duck  Creek,  and  a  town  sprung  up  at  that  place, 
and  was  named  Embree,  after  the  name  of  one  of 
the  leading  physicians,  and  when  the  Missouri,  Kan- 
sas &  Texas  road  located  a  line  and  run  near  Embree 
another  town  sprung  up,  and  there  was  quite  a  rival- 
ry between  the  two  towns,  Duck  Creek  and  Embree, 
but  it  was  finally  consolidated  into  one  town  and 
named  Garland,  and  the  bad  feeling  that  existed  at 
one  time  has  disappeared,  and  the  citizens  of  Gar- 
land all  work  together  and  are  proud  of  the  town,  and 
it  has  become  a  noted  place,  and  has  grown  rapidly. 

Garland  is  noted  for  her  liberality.  They  often 
have  barbecues  and  picnics  and  great  political  gath- 
erings there,  and  the  multitudes  that  attend  are  al- 
ways loud  in  their  praises  of  the  hearty  welcomes 
and  the  great  liberality  shown  by  the  people.  It  has 
most  of  the  conveniences  of  the  larger  cities  and  is 
surrounded  by  one  of  the  richest  sections  in  the 
country.  Garland  has  good  churches  and  schools, 
and  the  people  seem  to  be  happy  and  contented.  The 
farms  are  well  improved  with  comfortable  farm 
houses,  and  most  of  them  are  clear  of  debt  and  are 
independent. 


382  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

CEDAR  HILL 

This  place  took  its  name  from  the  cedar  brakes 
on  Mountain  Creek,  which  runs  a  short  distance  from 
the  town.  It  is  the  second  oldest  town  in  the  county, 
coming  next  to  Dallas.  Farmers  Branch  was  more 
of  an  important  place  than  either  in  the  early  days, 
but  did  not  develop  into  much  of  a  town  until  recent 
years.  Cedar  Hill  is  situated  eighteen  miles  south- 
west of  Dallas,  and  in  1856  experienced  a  sad  fate 
of  being  blown  away  by  a  storm,  leaving  only  two 
houses,  killing  most  of  the  people.  I  remember  well 
the  look  of  that  angry  cloud  and  the  awful  stories 
told  by  our  people  that  went  from  our  neighborhood 
to  help  bury  the  dead.  Many  stories  were  told  that 
seemed  also  incredible,  but  nevertheless  true. 

Cedar  Hill  is  situated  upon  a  lofty  rolling  hill,  and 
the  scenery  surrounding  this  town  is  truly  grand. 
Such  magnificent  sceneries  cannot  be  witnessed  from 
any  other  point  in  the  country. 

The  schools  are  good,  and  the  several  religious 
denominations  have  good  church  houses.  Some  of 
the  most  enterprising  citizens  of  the  county  live  in 
this  little  town.  Joe  H.  Stewart,  that  served  us  as 
District  Clerk  for  eight  years,  is  an  old  citizen  of 
Cedar  Hill,  and  has  lived  here  for  more  than  thirty 
years.  He  is  a  native  of  North  Carolina.  He  is 
known,  and  favorably  known,  throughout  the  coun- 
try. He  is  affable,  congenial  and  a  talented  gentle- 
man, and  his  friends  are  almost  without  number. 
The  soil  around  Cedar  Hill  is  very  good  for  small 
grain  and  cotton.  It  is  a  mixture  of  white  lime  and 
black  soil.     Cedar  Hill  is  also  a  fine  shipping  point. 


PLANO 

Is  situated  on  the  Houston  and  Texas  Central 
Railroad,  about  twenty  miles  north  of  Dallas,  in  Col- 


Sixty  Years  In  Texas.  383 

lin  County,  a  few  miles  north  of  the  north  line  of 
Dallas  County,  and  is  so  closely  identified  with  Dallas 
that  we  would  like  to  claim  her  as  one  of  Dallas 
County's  prosperous  and  growing  towns.  She  has 
the  H.  &  T.  C.  and  the  Cotton  Belt  Railroads,  that 
give  her  an  outlet  both  north,  south,  east  and  west. 
She  also  has  the  Dallas  and  Sherman  Interurban 
road,  with  cars  passing  every  half  hour.  The  coun- 
try that  surrounds  Piano  is  probably  the  best  and 
richest  blackland  county  in  North  Texas.  It  is  sim- 
ilar to  the  country  around  Richardson,  and  thought 
by  many  to  be  the  richest  and  best  body  of  black 
land  in  the  United  States.  Many  of  the  farmers 
around  Piano  are  wealthy,  and  Piano  is  a  thriving, 
hustling,  up-to-date  town  of  probably  2,500  inhab- 
itants or  more,  and  has  most  of  the  conveniences  of 
larger  cities.  She  has  good  school  houses  and  up- 
to-date  schools,  and  the  several  different  denomina- 
tions have  good  churches,  and  Piano  does  a  large 
trade  with  Dallas. 

When  my  father  and  family  came  to  Dallas  Coun- 
ty and  settled  about  ten  miles  west  of  where  Piano 
now  stands  the  land  then  was  considered  worthless 
on  account  of  it  being  so  far  from  timber,  and  in 
later  years  much  of  it- was  located  by  land  certificates 
that  were  floating  around,  the  cost  being  from 
fifteen  to  twenty-five  cents  per  acre.  Some  of  the 
same  land  has  sold  in  recent  years  as  high  as  $100 
per  acre,  and  not  many  of  the  farmers  care  to  sell  at 
all.  A  black-land  farm  near  Piano  is  a  mine  of 
wealth,  and  those  that  work  it  receive  bountiful  and 
rich  returns. 


MESQUITE 

Is  a  thriving  little  town  of  a  thousand  or  fifteen 
hundred  people,  situated  on  a  high  prairie  twelve 


384  Sixty  Years  In  Texas. 

miles  east  of  Dallas,  on  the  Texas  &  Pacific  Railroad. 
It  was  established  in  1872,  as  a  railroad  station. 
Being  located  in  a  rich  prairie  country,  it  soon  took 
rapid  growth,  and  developed  into  an  attractive  little 
town.  The  first  settlers  were  Major  Bradfield,  the 
station  agent,  and  J.  J.  Gallaher.  There  was  but  lit- 
tle improvement  at  that  time  in  the  surrounding 
country.  It  was  a  wild  prairie.  But  now  it  is  a  well- 
improved  country.  Neat  looking  farm  houses  and 
a  prosperous  people.  The  lamented  R.  S.  Kim- 
brough  did  a  great  deal  for  Mesquite  during  his  life 
time.  He  was  a  very  public  spirited  man,  and  Mes- 
quite lost  one  of  her  best  and  most  useful  citizens 
when  R.  S.  Kimbrough  died ;  but  Mesquite  has  many 
public  spirited  and  enterprising  citizens  now.  The 
Honorable  J.  C.  Rugel  has  served  in  the  State  Legis- 
lature, and  has  had  a  career  of  honor.  Four  or  five 
different  denominations  have  creditable  church 
buildings,  and  the  school  at  this  place  is  the  pride  of 
the  citizens,  and  Mesquite  is  also  a  good  cotton  mar- 
ket, and  it  is  also  a  first-class  shipping  place  for 
small  grain,  cotton  and  cattle. 

Mesquite  is  surrounded  by  a  rich  and  beautiful 
country,  and  her  people  are  prosperous,  and  their 
farms  well  improved. 

GEORGE  JACKSON. 


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